The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has pledged the Commission’s support for the World Food
Programme, WFP, towards ensuring that all support deployed by its donors and the
government of Nigeria reaches its beneficiaries without any threat of
corruption.
Magu made the pledge on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 while signing a
Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the WFP at the EFCC’s Head Office,
Abuja.
The EFCC boss who noted that corruption is a serious threat that
negatively affects the development of a nation said the new partnership will in
no small measure help in alleviating the sufferings of internally displaced
people especially in the northern part of Nigeria.
His words: “we assure you that we will follow you to every nook
and cranny of the North Eastern states like Yobe, Borno and Adamawa. We will be
with you where ever you need our attention, if there are no operative where you
are, we will send you operatives from here. We will support and work with your
intervention to reach its beneficiaries without any threat of corruption”.
Earlier, Bernadin Assiene, Director of Inspections and
Investigations, WFP, noted that that the MoU between WFP and EFCC is an
important aspect of WFP’s intervention in Nigeria and its main objective is to
ensure that all the support mobilized by it effectively reaches its
beneficiaries and is safe-proofed from any risk of fraud and corruption.
He also described the importance of signing of the MoU with EFCC
as first of its kind saying,"today's
MoU signing is the confirmation that EFCC is the right partner to help WFP
establish specific assurance mechanisms in Nigeria.”
He also poured accolades on the Commission’s doggedness in the
fight against corruption adding that, “EFCC's expertise, reputation and track
record of successful engagements in the fight against fraud and corruption in
the utilization of foreign assistance is well recognized, both nationally and
internationally.”
Sory Ouane, WFP Representative and Country Director, in his remark
explained how the WFP had provided intervention to the North East through its
intervention programme assuring that it would continue.
“The ongoing conflict in Northeast Nigeria has the potential to
cause further displacement and increase food insecurity. Therefore, WFP is
revising its emergency operations to implement a robust scale up and an
integrated response to meet the overwhelming needs in Northeast Nigeria, targetting
1.8 milllion people in Borno and Yobe States in 2017”, he said.
While Magu signed the MoU on behalf of the EFCC, Assiene signed
for the WFP.
Other members of the WFP at the event include: Peter Musoko Deputy
Regional Director; Femi Amure, West Africa Project Advisor/Liason and Ijeoma M.
Garba, External Partnership.
The occasion was witnessed by members of the management team of
the EFCC.
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