General News of Saturday, 18 January 2025

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Nigeria's greatest problem is public sector corruption - EFCC boss

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has said Nigeria's greatest problem is public sector corruption.

This was as he revealed that procurement and contract fraud account for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s corruption and fraud issues.

Olukoyede spoke on Friday at a meeting with a delegation of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) led by its newly-appointed Director General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, at the corporate headquarters of the EFCC.

“In the EFCC, we handle both private and public sector fraud. When it comes to the public sector, which is one of our major problems in Nigeria, we discovered that contract and procurement fraud takes more than 90 per cent of the volume of public sector fraud. And if you look at it, they range from commingling, contract splitting and all forms of shenanigans all over the place.

“Infrastructure-wise and all other developmental problems are attributable to contract and procurement fraud. It lies with you and with me to make a change. If we can work together, we will be able to leave this country better than we met it," he said.

Olukoyede called for collaboration between the EFCC and the BPP in project implementation and monitoring.

“So, I like your commitment, the new spirit you have brought into the agency. We are going to work together. We are going to collaborate for the sake of this country and for us to ensure that the 2025 budget is well implemented and executed. There is no hiding place for BPP. And there is no hiding from the EFCC. That's the truth.”

In his remarks, Adedokun said the Bureau under his leadership was on a mission for a rebirth.

“We are here to reassure you and your team that we are committed to making your job easier. We are here to reassure the 220 million Nigerians that they can go to sleep when it comes to how procurement is being done. We want to see that the EFCC can trust our documents without having to doubt. Documents that you can trust in your decision-making, in your investigation of fraud-related issues and procurement. We are here because we want to be open in terms of what we do and how we do it. We want to assure Nigerians that it's no longer business as usual. And we have started,” he said.