The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Monday, advised Nigerians to be less tolerant of criminal activities around them.
Magu spoke during an anti-corruption walk in Lagos in commemoration of the 2019 International anti-corruption day.
The walk, themed “United against Corruption” was aimed at creating awareness on the negative impact of corruption on Nigeria’s economic development.
The EFCC boss, who spoke via a press release, said the agency could not singlehandedly defeat corruption.
He enlisted Nigerians’ support.
Magu said: “At the EFCC, we don’t pretend to have the monopoly of knowledge of how the fight can be fought and won. We can’t do it alone.
“We are convinced that corruption can only be tackled when there is a meeting of minds and common resolve by all to fight the malaise. No one must be left behind. It is a collective responsibility to take Nigeria out of the woods.
“With the rare assemblage of stakeholders present here today, it is essential that I emphasis our commitment to the fight against corruption and further call on you all to continue to support us as we forge ahead”.
He stated that the rate of crime in the country has been an obstacle to the country’s development and that it needed a rapid solution.
Magu said: “It is no longer news that corruption is at the mid-riff of our developmental growth as a nation.”
“You will all agree with me that it promotes impunity in the conduct of public affairs. It is the reasons the nation is yet to fully realize it’s potentials as the effects of corruption permeate every sector.”
“Therefore, the search for solutions to the corruption challenge calls for concerted efforts. Of course, that “Prevention is better than Cure” no longer begs for relevance. It is, rather, an axiom we must embrace”.
He urged the people to shun crime and work hard towards acquisition of their wealth without having to indulge in corruption.
He added: “Our individual and collective resolve to foster attitudinal change, shun the alluring temptation of acquiring illicit wealth and embrace values that can promote the culture of accountability and transparency at all levels remain a major panacea to the menaces of corruption in our society.
“Our continued lamentation of how corruption had wreaked havoc on the nation will not quickly bring about the much-desired growth and progress.
“We will only effectively re-write our story if we organize ourselves to check the menace, which has been staring us in the face for many years.”
The EFCC boss promised not to spare offenders who are caught wanting in the act of corruption.
