The Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC and the Corporate Online Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, have sought for stronger collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, regarding carrying out massive sensitization campaigns on the ills of corruption, economic and financial crimes in Enugu State.
This request came recently when Martins Chiedozie Ugwu, Enugu State Coordinator, PCRC and his team, paid a courtesy visit to the Acting Zonal Director, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Directorate, ACE I Aisha Abubakar
Speaking during the visit, Ugwu said the essence of the visit was to seek for collaboration with the Commission in the area of sensitizing the people of Enugu State on the negative impacts of corruption in the society.
“We have seen the need for us to organize a conference that will bring youth leaders from different communities, organizations and other stakeholders. We understand that your work is too much. We are happy that part of your work is taking up proactive measures to checkmate economic and financial crimes, not just the kinetic aspect of combating it. So, because of the fact that we are working towards the same direction, we see the need to collaborate with you and invite you to this conference to have the opportunity to sensitize the people and enjoin them to join forces together with the EFCC in order to win this fight against corruption in the state”, he said.
Responding, Abubakar said that “the Commission takes its preventive mandate seriously. We carry out rigorous sensitization campaigns from time to time because we have a duty to let the people know the ills of economic and financial crimes, what it is, how it affects the society”. She said that the scourge of corruption has made it imperative for the Commission to always remind the people of the need to support the EFCC in eradicating the menace.
In the same vein, the Chairman, Corporate Online Chapel of the NUJ, Enugu State Council, Clinton Umeh sought for enhanced partnership with the Commission in the area of sensitizing the youths in the state and discouraging them from engaging in cybercrimes.
“As a chapel and as journalists, we are bothered about the rising incidence of crimes. If we report everything we see, except for those of you in the security department that will know it is possible, some people will doubt the originality of what we are saying. We want to be part of your campaigns. Most of these youths who engage in crimes don’t know the implications of what they are doing but if there is adequate orientation, sensitization, except those that are determined on doing crimes, the innocent ones can be saved. That is what we can achieve with our chapel because as a chapel, we relate with everyday people on social media. So, we want to see how we can work with your Directorate. Let us know what you are doing, let us know your programme, we are ready to partner with you on sensitization”, he said.
In her remarks, Abubakar appreciated the visit and acknowledged the roles of media in the society. She described the NUJ as “critical stakeholders in the fight against corruption” and reiterated the Commission’s readiness to enhance its collaboration with the NUJ.
“We are always willing and ready to partner with you. Of course, when it comes to our duties, based on the Establishment Act and right from inception, the EFCC has been strong on collaboration as it is one of our Core Values. Again, one of our functions is to go out there and eradicate economic and financial crimes, through sensitization and awareness”, she said.
While enjoining the NUJ to share intelligence with the Commission, the Acting Zonal Director said that the Commission has channels of reporting cases anonymously which include the EFCC Eagle Eye application “and all you need to do is to download it and report a crime without even letting us know you are the one”.
She thereafter assured the visitors of maximum support and reassured the Union of the Directorate’s readiness to partner with it. “We will be happy to collaborate with you. When you have any programme, we will be there. When we are having ours, we will invite you”, she said.
