As the fight against corruption rages on in the country, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have expressed optimism that the fight will garner more momentum using President Muhammadu Buhari as an anti-corruption brand.
This was expressed during an advocacy visit by the NOA Director General, Garba Abari to the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu where the two agreed that the personal attributes and official posture of the President against corruption stand him out as a role model whose personality can be leveraged in the anti-corruption campaign.
Abari disclosed that NOA was driving a citizens-led anti-corruption campaign which would include communicating the societal dangers of corruption to Nigerians at all levels using the Agency’s structure in all Local Governments of the country. The aim, he said, was to “stigmatize corruption and sensitize the citizenry” thereby securing public support against corruption. He said the campaign would target three key segments of society including the youth, women and professionals towards a national rebirth away from the unwholesome practices which led the country to its current economic challenges.
The Acting EFCC Chairman noted that the Commission was placing emphasis on the preventive aspect of anti-corruption, hence it had identified President Buhari as a befitting anti-corruption icon and NOA as a crucial partner in that regard. He said the President had displayed genuine political goodwill in the fight against corruption and what was left was for Nigerians to be properly sensitized on how corruption adversely affects them in order to elicit their support against corruption.
Magu proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the two organizations to guide their collaboration and ensure the speedy record of success in the citizens-led anti-corruption campaign.