Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has called for closer collaboration with journalists in Kano to strengthen the fight against economic and financial crimes.
Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC in Kano, Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, said on Tuesday that the media remained a critical partner in creating awareness, exposing corruption, and promoting transparency.
“I want to call upon you to join hands with us in this fight against economic and financial crimes. The doors of the EFCC are fully open for collaboration,” Sa’ad told members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) during a courtesy visit.
He urged reporters to embrace investigative journalism and verify information before publication, adding that Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 permits the public and media to report suspected crimes even without a written petition.
“Once you become aware of an offence, you are at liberty to report it, even anonymously,” he said.
The EFCC, he added, is also committed to sensitisation and public awareness campaigns on the dangers of corruption and will support capacity-building initiatives for journalists, including workshops and training on anti-corruption reporting.
Chairman of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Murtala Adewale, called for more synergy between the media and the Commission, saying training for journalists would strengthen coverage of graft issues.
He also informed the EFCC of the Chapel’s upcoming workshop on “Solutions Journalism” and requested the Commission’s participation.
Adewale commended the EFCC for its efforts against corruption despite challenges, stressing that closer ties with the media would boost the effectiveness of the anti-graft campaign.