Victor EzejaThe National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to support it in fulfilling its mandate which is catering to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced and stateless persons.
The Federal Commissioner, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim who made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of the EFCC, requested the Commission’s support in securing office accommodation and opportunity for her staff to train at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja.
Hajia Ibrahim implored the Commission to consider the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in her corporate social responsibility programmes.
The Refugees Commission boss had disclosed that she had launched a strategic framework to turn around the fortunes of the Commission. She spoke passionately about the Project Zero Hunger aimed at meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and the Project Reliance which is a collaborative effort with the Central Bank of Nigeria to turn around the fortunes of the Commission and improve the condition of persons that depend on her services.
She further disclosed that the Commission would digitize its operations as it liaised with the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to provide ICT training to 10,000 Nigerians.
The Refugees Commission boss also said she was exploring the possibility of working closely with state governors to look into the possibility of closing the existing refugee camps or turn them into settlements for those who cannot return to their homes.
Responding, the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa acknowledged the importance of the work of the Refugees Commission in the midst of the security challenges especially in the North East and North West and offered to support the Commission to achieve her mandate.
He expressed delight on how the Commission was thinking about improving its processes and procedures through the strategic framework.
He pointed out that the EFCC was already running with a similar vision through its Strategic Plan that minimizes the use of discretion in the fight against corruption. “I believe that you are on the right track based on what you have mentioned”, he said.
The EFCC boss promised to oblige the Refugees Commission the opportunity to train its personnel at the EFCC Academy which he said was recently renovated. However, he said a training needs assessment would be carried out to determine the type of training that is suitable to the Commission.
Bawa also said he welcomes the idea of designating focal persons or teams to facilitate smooth interface between the two agencies. He added that he would prefer the focal person for the EFCC is drawn from the Special Control Unit Against Money laundering. This, he explained, is informed by his concern over the alleged involvement of some international Non-Governmental organizations in money laundering and terrorism financing activities.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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