Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has reaffirmed the indispensable role of personal integrity in the ongoing fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Speaking at a recent stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, Olukoyede stressed that institutional reforms and enforcement efforts must be underpinned by strong individual values if the country is to make lasting progress in curbing financial crimes.
According to the EFCC boss, corruption thrives where personal accountability is absent, and government institutions alone cannot succeed in the anti-graft war without citizens demonstrating ethical behaviour in both public and private dealings.
“Laws and enforcement mechanisms are only as effective as the integrity of the people who uphold them,” Olukoyede said. “Until we begin to place character above convenience, and honesty above opportunism, corruption will remain a recurring decimal in our national experience.”
He further called on public office holders, civil servants, business leaders, and young Nigerians to embrace a culture of transparency and moral responsibility. He maintained that the Commission would not relent in prosecuting offenders, but noted that prevention—anchored on ethical conduct—is more sustainable than punishment.
Olukoyede’s remarks come amid renewed efforts by the EFCC to strengthen institutional capacity, collaborate with global agencies, and deploy technology to track illicit financial flows and money laundering, especially in digital spaces.
The EFCC Chairman also revealed plans to intensify public sensitization campaigns to build a national value system that discourages corruption and promotes integrity as a patriotic duty.
