The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, emphasized the need for a tough stance on corruption in Nigeria, warning that a soft approach will not work. Olukoyede made these comments during a visit from Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Olukoyede reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to working closely with the CCB to tackle corruption and financial crimes. He stressed that all stakeholders must actively contribute to the fight.
Olukoyede pointed out that both agencies have aligned mandates, underscoring the importance of reinforcing their existing collaboration. “I don’t see this as a mere courtesy visit; it’s a call to strengthen our partnership,” he stated. “Both the EFCC and CCB were established to combat corruption and financial misconduct.”
The EFCC chair highlighted the importance of rigorous investigations and prosecutions in curbing corruption. “In Nigeria, you can’t fight corruption with kid gloves—it simply won’t work. Corruption requires a strong stance, not begging or pleading,” he explained.
He urged Nigerians to take responsibility for addressing corruption. “A better Nigeria will not just fall into our laps. Foreigners won’t come to fix this for us; we have to tackle it ourselves, and we have the resources to do it.”
