The Acting Chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has said the
Commission will stop at nothing in dealing decisively with any worker in the
aviation sector involved in acts of corruption.
Magu gave the warning on Thursday
at the anti-corruption sensitization programme organized by the EFCC for the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other aviation sector workers
in Abuja.
According to him, the warning was
necessary due to the series of reported cases of corruption in the aviation
sector, ranging from misuse of funds, bribery, extortion, to abuse of authority
by officials at the airports.
He asserted that the EFCC, as the
agency mandated to fight corruption in Nigeria, was determined more than ever
before to rid all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies of all forms
of fraudulent activities.
“As things stand, except we
delude ourselves, we cannot deny that the twin evils of corruption and poor
infrastructure have blighted our aviation industry.
“In recent times, many cases of
corruption have been reported in the sector, ranging from misuse of funds,
bribery, extortion, to abuse of authority by officials at the airports.
“I advise you to familiarise
yourselves with the EFCC Act and other laws affecting your duties as EFCC will
not spare anyone who runs afoul of the law,” Magu said.
He said the airport, being the
most important gateway into the country, is strategic in many ways. The most
important of which is the fact that it is foreigners’ first contact with
Nigeria and the impression they form of the country is largely informed by the
conduct of aviation professionals.
Magu added that it is for that
reason that the conduct of Nigeria’s aviation professionals is key to the
efforts at national rebirth, especially the critical economic mandate of
attracting foreign direct investment into the country’s economy.
He urged the aviation workers to
erase those practices, attitudes and behaviours that cast a slur on the
nation’s reputation and make Nigeria an unattractive destination for both
tourists and investment.
He further called for the
installation of screening and monitoring systems to ensure that airport staffs
deliver service to the best international practices; stressing that FAAN, in
collaboration with the EFCC, can fight corruption effectively and cases of free
movement of criminals in and out of the country and the brazen laundering of
proceeds of illicit activities through the nation’s airports checked through
improved synergy.
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