The National Inland Waterways Authority has called for greater collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to checkmate fraudulent malpractices in the Waterways sector.
This call was made on Monday, February 19, 2024 by the NIWA’s Area Manager in charge of Borno and Yobe States, Mr. Faruq A. Imam while on a courtesy visit to the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC.
Imam said the visit was meant to seek greater collaboration with the Commission, adding that his agency was created by the Federal Government to register, monitor and sanitise usage of waterways.
He decried the activities of some government agencies, private organisations and individuals that have failed “to fulfill their obligations or refuse to seek for approval before and after using the waterways in the states and such has negatively impacted the nation’s economy”
He added that, “the National Inland Waterways Act clearly states that nobody should use Waterways without an approval from the Authority. There are cases that we are unable to resolve, therefore, we urge the EFCC to investigate this economic sabotage, threat to national security and as well prosecute the culprits”, he said.
Responding, the Zonal Commander, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Oshodi Johnson appreciated the visit and assured the NIWA’s team of the Commission’s commitment to actualising a Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes across the states.
“I urge the manager to, as a matter of urgency, write a petition against those agencies, organisations and individuals and submit to us, because this is an economic sabotage and we will investigate them accordingly and fish out defaulters”, he said.