By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Friday, commissioned a zonal office in Awka, vowing to protect Anambra and Imo States from economic sabotage, including cyber crimes and related matters.

The was stated by the Chairman, EFCC, Olanipekun Olukoyede during the commissioning of its regional office located at Udoka estate, Awka.

According to Commission’s chairman, they have seen Nigerians from both States creating businesses, building industry, trading, investing, and generating employment, hence the reason Awka was chosen for the regional office.

He said: "These legitimate economic activities must be protected from fraud, from cybercrime, and money laundering, advance fee fraud, diversion of public resources, and other forms of economic and financial crime. Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion.

“It’s about bringing the agency a bit closer to the people, and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect. Part of our mandate is to also help you to safeguard your economy. And so, I charge Mr Governor and the head of the office here to develop a cordial working relationship.

“We look at vulnerable areas in the system, vulnerability in particular areas, and areas that are vulnerable to fraud, and we work with you to draw what we call risk assessment and control.

“That will be part of the mission. So, we are not just here to hunt you, we are here to work with you to make sure that you succeed in your economic activities. In pursuit of our mandate as well, our primary engagement is in corruption. We have made impressive progress.”

In his speech, the Speaker, Federal House of Representative, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass, who represented President Bola Tinubu, urged Anambra and Imo states government respectively to protect the critical infrastructure of the agency as Nigerians owe much to its decisive action for economic development.

He said: “I call upon all Nigerians to take ownership of this collective crusade. Restoring transparency, accountability, and due process across all sectors of governance demands the active cooperation of every citizen.”

In his remarks, the Governor of Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, hailed the Federal government the Commission for choosing the state to plant its regional office in the South-East.

While describing it as a welcome development his Imo State counterpart, Governor Hope Uzodimma, pledged partnership with the commission in the fight against financial crimes.

He urged the Commission to consider building a state office in his home state, Imo State, saying that it will create more accessibility to the people in the state.

Uzodinma however advice citizens to embrace the idea, adding, “EFCC is not your enemy but your friend.

“EFCC doesn’t go after people that make legitimate money but I also urge the officers to work in line with the rule of law.”