Japanese Agency Backs Olukoyede’s Focus On Economic Development
Abdulazeez Abdulwahab
THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has thrown its weight behind the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede in his determined bid to use the fight against economic and financial crimes as a potent weapon for achieving sustainable economic development and good governance in Nigeria.
This gesture was made in Abuja today Thursday, 2 May 2024 by the Chief Representative of JICA, Yuzurio Suzumu while on a courtesy visit to the the corporate headquarters of the EFCC. 
According to Suzumu, “EFCC is a very important partner for collaboration, and our aim is to contribute to the sustainable development of Nigeria. We have identified sustainable economic development, social development, good governance and peacebuilding as key pillars of our collaboration”, he said.
Suzumu emphasized that financial crimes are a cross-sector issue affecting the development of the economy, society, governance, and peace. He expressed appreciation to the EFCC for its strong commitment and effort towards combating economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, as well as making proposals for broad-based capacity-building programmes for staff of the EFCC and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the area of fighting corruption.
In his response, Mr Olukoyede pointed out that JICA had shared values and objectives with the EFCC. “We also stand for sustaining economic development and good governance. In fact, upon my assumption of office, one of my policy objectives was to use the anti-corruption instrumentality to stimulate the economy.”
He also restated the EFCC’s efforts aimed at stabilizing the foreign exchange market, stressing that the Commission would not relent in monitoring developments in the sector and prosecute illegal foreign exchange traders causing disruption in the forex market. 
“We are trying to stabilize the foreign exchange market and stimulate growth in the economy. To this effect, companies and entities operating to destroy the economy won’t be allowed to have their ways”, he said.
He also emphasized the importance of preventive frameworks against corruption, maintaining that, “We are not going to wait for the money to be stolen before taking action”.
The Chairman also pledged to collaborate with JICA, particularly in the areas of manpower training and development to achieve shared objectives. He called for more support for President Bola Tinubu in his quest to reflate and rebuild the commanding heights of the economy. “We need to support President Bola Tinubu’s relentless efforts to revive and grow the economy”, he said.
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