SSDC Seeks EFCC Collaboration, Reaffirms Commitment to Transparency and Accountability

The Managing Director of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), Ms. Usoro Akpabio, has called for a strategic partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure the Commission’s financial activities are strictly guided by existing financial laws.

She made the appeal on Thursday during a courtesy visit to EFCC Chairman, Mr.

Discussions at the meeting centered on building a framework to guarantee that SSDC’s operations are anchored on transparency and financial integrity from inception. Akpabio commended the EFCC’s critical role in safeguarding Nigeria’s economy and applauded the reforms championed under Olukoyede’s leadership.

She reiterated SSDC’s zero-tolerance stance on financial crimes, leakages, and malpractices, stressing that accountability, integrity, and transparency remain the Commission’s guiding principles. “We are committed to aligning our activities with the EFCC’s stringent standards for financial compliance right from the outset,” she said.

Highlighting SSDC’s mandate to drive economic development in the South-South, Akpabio formally sought EFCC’s collaborative support to ensure both internal and external financial operations comply with national laws. She specifically requested specialized cybercrime training for SSDC staff as well as joint public awareness campaigns against financial crimes.

In response, EFCC Chairman Olukoyede welcomed SSDC’s initiative and assured the agency of EFCC’s full support. He underscored the importance of strict adherence to financial regulations and anti-corruption frameworks, pledging partnership in fraud risk assessments, capacity building, and public enlightenment campaigns.

Olukoyede further noted the EFCC Academy’s certification to provide nationwide training and encouraged SSDC to remain steadfast in its mission of transforming lives and entrenching good governance across the South-South region.