President Bola Tinubu has said he is at the forefront of changing Nigeria for the better, just as he disclosed that his administration had brought some positive changes in the South-east, South-south, North-east, and North-west in the areas of security and economy.
The president spoke Tuesday in Enugu while commissioning the ultra-modern Enugu Zonal Command Complex of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He said while things were changing in Nigeria for the better in the past six months, 2024 would manifest the fullness of his administration’s many reforms.
Represented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, President Tinubu saluted the Nigerian military, the Police, DSS and the rest for the good work they are currently doing in the country.
He said: “First, I’m bringing the greetings of Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said I should congratulate you and your team. Your Excellency, the governor, we want to thank you so much for the good work you are doing, not just for Enugu state, but for our country.
“Things are changing. We are getting better here and things are improving. You are one of the very, very few that have shown that, indeed, it is possible. Security is getting back to normalcy in Enugu state and, by extension, the South -east. And you are in the forefront of it.
“We recognise that and thank you for the good work you are doing. The economy is improving. It is clear. You are addressing insecurity. You are engaging.
“We believe that with leaders like you, the human challenges and the typical things we had to face in the past will certainly be put behind us. We want to encourage you and all those, who are doing exceptionally good work in restoring order in Nigeria.
“We were here in June and we had an interaction with the governor, and he came out strongly and courageously. He said that he would do his best to restore order. Today, based on our own records and statistics – because we get daily reports of activities – there are lots of instances or days or even weeks and more that we have not recorded one single violence or incident of either terrorism or even kidnapping. They are going extremely down in Enugu-state and by extension the South-east. Things have changed.
“Unfortunately, before the coming of this administration, police stations were being attacked; law enforcement people were being attacked. People were giving selfish orders. Those who are not even in Nigeria will sit somewhere in the comfort of the countries where they live and be giving instructions that people should not go to work; should not go out to look for their own livelihood and people used to take such orders. But no more; it is no longer happening. We thank the leaders who have emerged in the South-east and we thank the federal government for engagement.
“We want to thank the governor of Enugu state. He has done a wonderful job. And also tell people of this state to support him. He is doing a good job. We are very, very proud of what is happening today in Enugu state and the South-east by extension.”
While further relaying the president’s message, Ribadu said: “We want to do the right things. And he (Mr President) is in the forefront of doing that. Things are changing in Nigeria. In 2024, wait and see what is going to happen.
“It is important that law enforcement agencies which are critical to our collective safety, security, prosperity, and general well-being, are afforded necessary facilities to ensure their welfare and efficiency. This is why I commend the chairman of the EFCC and his team for this initiative.
“I’m confident that the state-of-the-art facility will further motivate the staff to rededicate themselves to the cause of fighting economic and financial crimes, emerging challenges hindering our development as a nation.”
Tinubu said the decision to prioritise the welfare of the personnel of the zone and indeed, all EFCC staff members was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
Ribadu
Turning the message around himself, Ribadu said: “Under my watch as the NSA, unbridled rivalry among various security agencies will not be tolerated.
“Though we do not talk too much, things are changing. The South-east is changing. The south-south is changing. The same with the North-east and North-west. We’re defeating Boko Haram. We’re defeating bandits. We’re engaging our brothers (agitators) who are in this part of the country to plead that we are all together and we are one.
“That is happening simply because all of us are together in this. Unlike what happened in the past. I’m emphasising this simply because it makes a massive difference.”
Mbah, EFCC boss speak
Also speaking, Enugu state Governor Peter Mbah commended security agencies on the good job done so far in the state, adding that his administration supported the EFCC towards the rebuilding of a befitting zonal office in Enugu to strengthen the war against corruption and insecurity.
“We hereby enjoin the security agencies and EFCC to sustain their good work to ensure that Enugu State and Nigeria as a whole are finally able to consign the memories of insecurity to distant history. “The opening of this office reconfirms our commitment as a nation to sustain the war against corruption. This commitment is well founded in view of the many proven negative effects corruption has on economic development.
“With this in mind, considering the objective of this administration to make Enugu one of the top 3 states in Nigeria in terms of GDP and achieve a zero percent rate in the poverty head count, it is clear that corruption has to be brought down to a barest minimum within the State,” he stated.
On his part, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, charged his men to raise the ante, utilising the facilities and resources at their disposal in the war against corruption to redeem the nation’s image.
“With this facility, I want to assure His Excellency and indeed all citizens of Enugu State and the entire South East region that fraudsters have no place in any part of the zone.
“To whom much is given is given, much is also expected. I require every staff to be doubly committed to the mandate of the Commission for the South East to feel the greater impact of the EFCC in our development”, he said.
Olukoyede also said, “families that have been victims of fraud will wipe their tears away following the commission’s onslaught against corruption and fraud.”
