Our Reporter

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede has called on Nigerians to support the Commission in its effort to redeem the youth from the path of derailment.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Commission's Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale on Friday.

Olukoyede in the statement, made the call in Abuja when the executives of Committee of Youth Mobilization and Sensitization, CYMS, led by their head, Chief Obinna Nwaka paid him a courtesy visit at the Commission’s corporate headquarters.

Olukoyede stated that, the Commisssion is going to maintain this tempo and urged Well-meaning and reform-minded Nigerians to support the EFCC.

The statement read, "We must not allow our youths to derail. We have allowed it over a period of time and we have seen the destruction. Some of our youths are smart and skillful. It is just a matter of sensitizing them towards how to channel their talents to productive engagements. There is no future in cybercrime.

“Let everybody realize this, the fight is not for ourselves. It is for the youth, it is for the entire country. Just imagine what will happen if EFCC does not work for one month, so it is important for us to give this mandate serious collaboration and support.”

"Nigerians who desire a better future for the youth and the country, especially those who have suffered harm and humiliation from cybercrime must stand up and be counted for collaboration and partnership with the EFCC.

“It is important for us to realise that if we continue to move in this trajectory the future would be bleak for the youth and the country. We must do something fast. Travel abroad and see the humiliating treatment they give Nigerians.

"Once they see your Green Passport, they take you aside from the queue and subject you to a thorough search because of the bad image that a few of our youths have created for the country. Nigerians need EFCC.

"If you are not working, who will even think of you?  We are working, that is why you are seeing all these attacks everywhere.

“What we are simply saying is that if you have occupied a position of trust, come and account. You can only run, you can’t hide.

"If we don’t bring people to account they will drive the country into a pariah state, where anything goes. 

"There is nothing personal about the work we do in the EFCC. You can see the developments that are taking place in countries that do not have the kind of resources that Nigeria has. Nigeria will be great again but we must all come together to fight corruption.

“I want to thank you for all the work you do, particularly in the area of sensitizing the youth on the need for them to create a good future for themselves.

"What is important is for us to be optimistic. We are not going to relent, we are not afraid of anything.”