By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi,

Corruption has long been a major impediment to Nigeria’s socio-economic progress, eroding public confidence in institutions and hindering national development. Due to the heterogeneous nature of Nigerian society, the fight against corruption has been a complex and multifaceted challenge.

It requires not only robust investigative and legal frameworks but also effective communication strategies to foster public understanding, build trust, and encourage citizen participation. Recognizing this, the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) recently paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

The visit, led by CCC Chairman, Major General Chris Olukolade (Rtd), underscored the Centre’s commitment to fostering collaboration with the EFCC, particularly in the area of strategic crisis communication. The CCC Chairman expressed solidarity with the agency’s ongoing efforts to promote transparency and accountability across the public system.

He commended the EFCC for its significant achievements in uncovering high-profile corruption cases, emphasizing the agency’s dedication to ridding Nigeria of financial crimes. Meanwhile, crisis communication remains a critical tool in shaping public perception and ensuring that institutions maintain transparency, accountability, and trust.

Unfortunately, despite its commendable efforts in tackling financial crimes, the EFCC often finds itself at the receiving end of misinformation, misrepresentation, and deliberate attempts to discredit its operations.

Major General Olukolade acknowledged this challenge, stating that CCC’s doors remain open for collaboration in public sensitization campaigns. He emphasized that effective strategic communication can help correct false narratives, counter media trials, and promote public understanding of the EFCC’s mandate and achievements.

Additionally, proactive public enlightenment and perception management will strengthen the EFCC’s credibility and effectiveness in the fight against corruption. The EFCC’s recent successes—including the historic arrest of 792 cybercrime syndicate members, among them foreigners, in Lagos, and the seizure of 753 duplex units linked to corrupt individuals who had looted public funds—are testaments to the agency’s relentless commitment to justice.

However, these milestones often get overshadowed by misinformation, reducing public support for the EFCC’s mission. One of the key concerns raised by EFCC Chairman Mr. Olukoyede was the growing trend of public sympathy for corrupt individuals, often manifesting in protests against their prosecution.

He lamented that rather than commending the EFCC’s efforts, segments of society choose to align with those facing corruption charges. This misalignment is largely fueled by inadequate public enlightenment, media misrepresentation, and targeted propaganda by corrupt individuals seeking to evade justice.

It is evident that some mischief-makers exploit loopholes in communication to tarnish the agency’s image, making strategic advocacy and awareness campaigns more crucial than ever. The EFCC’s intelligence-driven operations, which require discretion and sometimes limit the immediate release of details to the public, are often misinterpreted. This underscores the need for strategic communication to explain the agency’s methods and achievements effectively.

A partnership between the CCC and EFCC can bridge this gap. Through joint initiatives, both institutions can work toward reshaping public discourse around corruption, reinforcing the message that financial crimes are detrimental to national growth, and urging Nigerians to support—rather than obstruct—the EFCC’s efforts.

Beyond enforcement, the EFCC is now focusing on preventive measures to curb financial misappropriation before it escalates into complex legal battles. By adopting intelligence-driven strategies, the agency seeks to tackle corruption at its roots, reducing the burden of prolonged court proceedings.

Mr. Olukoyede reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to leveraging advocacy, sensitization, and public engagement to complement its enforcement mechanisms. The collaboration with CCC will help drive this agenda by crafting compelling narratives, organizing public awareness campaigns, and equipping Nigerians with the right information to actively support the anti-corruption fight.

The EFCC’s battle against corruption is not just a fight for the agency; it is a fight for Nigeria’s future, in which every citizen is expected to contribute their share of efforts toward achieving this mandate. Fighting corruption is everybody’s business, not the EFCC’s alone. Nevertheless, with the CCC stepping in to amplify the commission’s efforts through strategic communication, there is renewed hope for fostering a corruption-intolerant society.

By leveraging media engagement, grassroots advocacy, and digital campaigns, the CCC and EFCC can work together to counter false narratives, highlight success stories, and reinforce the message that corruption is an enemy of national progress.

This partnership is not just about strengthening the EFCC’s image; it is about reinforcing a national culture of integrity, where transparency and accountability become the cornerstones of governance and public service. As the collaboration unfolds, all stakeholders—including the media, civil society organizations, and the general public—must rally behind this cause, ensuring that the fight against corruption remains unwavering and successful.

MUKHTAR is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC). He wrote via: ymukhtar944@gmail.com

In an era where terrorism and transnational crime remain pervasive global threats, Nigeria is taking a proactive stance against insecurity. The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle MON, recently underscored the country’s commitment with a strategic visit to Saudi Arabia. The visit, centered on engagements with the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), marked a crucial step in reinforcing Nigeria’s role in global counterterrorism efforts and securing international cooperation in the fight against insecurity.

As the world grapples with heightened terrorist activities, Nigeria has made notable strides in combatting insurgency and criminality. Recent military operations have significantly degraded threats posed by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and banditry in Northern Nigeria. Yet, sustaining these gains requires collaboration beyond national borders. Dr. Matawalle’s visit comes at a time when global partnerships are increasingly pivotal to dismantling terrorism networks and addressing the root causes of insecurity.

The IMCTC, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is a multilateral coalition of 41 member states dedicated to combating terrorism. Since its inception in 2015, the coalition has focused on ideological, media, financial, and military dimensions of counterterrorism. Its initiatives include training programs, intelligence sharing, and fostering international cooperation, making it an invaluable ally for Nigeria.

The IMCTC’s achievements range from capacity-building programs to comprehensive research outputs that raise awareness of extremist threats. For Nigeria, being part of this coalition means access to cutting-edge technologies, modern training, and an expansive intelligence network—tools essential for eradicating insecurity.

During his visit to the IMCTC headquarters, Dr. Matawalle held high-level discussions with Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, the coalition’s Secretary-General. The minister expressed Nigeria’s gratitude for the training programs extended to the Nigerian Armed Forces, which have significantly enhanced their counterterrorism capabilities. He called for periodic training and greater support in areas such as forensic expertise and intelligence sharing.

Dr. Matawalle emphasized the importance of localizing modern technologies to strengthen Nigeria’s armed forces, a sentiment echoed during his discussions on bilateral military cooperation with Saudi officials. The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s plans to nominate delegates for secondment to the IMCTC, further deepening ties and enhancing collaboration.

The visit reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to contributing resources to the coalition’s operations, ensuring its sustainability and effectiveness. Beyond immediate military benefits, these engagements signify a broader vision: positioning Nigeria as a regional leader in counterterrorism and a model for African-Arab collaboration.

Dr. Matawalle’s proactive approach aligns with his record of delivering results. His leadership recently spearheaded operations that neutralized key bandit leaders in Northern Nigeria, showcasing a combination of strategy, community collaboration, and international partnership.

Dr. Bello Matawalle’s visit to Saudi Arabia not only spotlighted Nigeria’s resolve to combat terrorism but also underscored the importance of global alliances in addressing shared challenges. By fostering closer ties with the IMCTC and other partners, Nigeria is poised to strengthen its military capabilities, ensure long-term stability, and contribute meaningfully to global security.

As the fight against insecurity continues, the minister’s efforts symbolize a crucial blend of diplomacy and military strategy, reaffirming Nigeria’s role as a key player in the global counterterrorism landscape.

Nathaniel Adoji is a public commentator and researcher.

Attempt by the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to use Thursday’s budget presentation by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to settle political scores will forever hunt him and hurt his career, writes Shola Oyeyipo.

Whoever seeks the peace and progress of Lagos State, and understands the import of the sneering show of shame exhibited last Thursday by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, during the 2025 budget presentation by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, must have experienced a rather concerning spectacle.

Inspired by overt complex but shackled by biological defects to properly process his thoughts and actions, Obasa took Lagos on a short excursion of the unsightly guttering that most likely gave rise to him.

From the audacity of his veiled threat to a sitting governor and his open, yet, appalling demand for absurd appeasement, it seemed the gloves are off now.

There appears to be no more hiding place or pretence between him and the governor he now brazenly and openly considers a rival rather than the partners they are meant to be. All that had been in the realm of speculations or mere rumour have been stamped to be true. Thanks to the unthinking speaker. At the presentation of the 2025 budget, an event, which by practice and convention, always presents a global city like Lagos, an opportunity to further put itself on the world map, Obasa chose to make a mess of it on account of non-existent political rivalry, accentuated by poverty of ambition, to expose the joke that he is.
He probably didn’t even realise that there could be some foreign investors watching from different parts of the world – London, New York, Paris, Beijing, Brussels – to see the trajectory of the economy of a megacity in the coming year? Or isn’t it the same budget presentation that Lagos used to invite seasoned economists and captains of industry to witness, just to show the importance attached to the event and take them through plans for the year in focus? As a serious business, budget presentation has never been a charade that Obasa has suddenly turned it into, thus desecrating the hallowed chamber. The reason this despicable showing was more worrisome is because it came from the longest serving speaker in the state. At least, for now. To add to this infantile demeanour is that the whole thing was not spontaneous. Obasa and his thoughtless allies in the assembly actually orchestrated it all, spending quality time to plan plain shamelessness.

This included their decision to not applaud the governor after his speech and also not to wear agbada for the occasion but to sport sunshades. Even Gen-Zs would do better. But before you think this is an exaggeration of what might have happened, especially if you didn’t watch the event, you may want to read some of the excerpts from the drivel the speaker called speech.

“…That being said, it is necessary to harp on the fact that under democracy, this arm of government remains independent. This House, of course, recognises this and will always be so, even though we work hand-in-hand with other arms of government. “It is also important to state here that this House is a sanctuary and temple, just like every other temple anywhere where we all worship. No one will violate any temple and expect the gods to accept his or her sacrifice.

“And if such happens, there must be an appease to the gods to accept such atonement. No amount of intimidation or coercing will disintegrate or change the belief of all the members of this institution!

“Today, we want to assure Mr Governor that this honourable House will look at the budget and do the necessary scrutiny as usual. But it should be noted that this institution remains resolute. We will never be disgraced, abused, or ridiculed in the name of creating a seamless working ambiance.

“Let me also emphasise that those who live in glass house must not throw stone as the saying goes. This also brings to my mind, according to our people: eni ba yara logun ngbe. Meaning, the god of iron recognises the swift ones.

“In other words, those who are facilitating or planning to interfere in this House or destroy the cohesion of this institution should also be prepared for same fate.

“May I use this medium to sensitise us more on the need to build and sustain our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), regarding our focus for 2027. We need to continue to mobilise people just as I do frequently.

“I have made it a personal task to mobilise people on the platform of Mandate, which has been misconstrued by some political detractors as being selfish aspiration on the ground for me to become governor of the state.

“There is the need, however, to correct this wrong impression. My concern is about building our party, and whatever we do is mainly for this cause.

“To the blackmailers who have embarked on the mission to distort and redefine our mission, let me state it unequivocally here. Our intention is to promote our party on the platform of Mandate.

“Also, becoming governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given a serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas, those who have been before me are not better of…”
So, Obasa and his travel buddies are now gods to be appeased? He went on to conclude that those who had been before him were not better off? What is he even saying here? The question is, who is he close to in all the boxes of consideration for leadership – from speakership to governorship? The closest anyone can relate to him in terms of disposition is MC Oluomo, who unfortunately has even kept and maintained a better steeze in public. From day one, Obasa has remained a defacing character to the beautiful portrait of Lagos. No less an error of choice, which speaks, sometimes, to the warped leadership recruitment process for crass political correctness in the state. He has reduced the very essence of the cosmopolitan description of the state and makes leadership appear like a free-for-all.

The question on where Obasa derives his “borrowed confidence” from will be asked at other times. But if he is stoking crisis in the state or picking on Sanwo-Olu because of a reward that will never come, then he must be a very poor student of history.

He is no more than a cannon fodder – an expendable more or less – who would be used maximally and dumped when all that is left is sheer nuisance without values. Again, if he thinks in considering worthy characters for the Lagos governorship, he would ever cross anyone’s mind, then he must have slept for too long, struggling to wake up from a choking nightmare.

The fact that he even found the budget presentation an appropriate forum to denigrate an office he aspires to, promote political agenda and hint at group affiliation (Mandate), is in itself a failed strategy that is sure to consume him, ultimately.

The countdown to 2027 has begun, without a doubt, and everyone who saw his fickle display of power yesterday would be back to remind him of this very shameful event, by which time he would be no more than a used up clod.

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/11/24/obasa-blinded-by-his-ambition/