Glory Ebomah
The National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, NCFRMI, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to support it in fulfilling its mandate which is catering for the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced and stateless persons.
The Federal Commissioner, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of the commission.
She specifically requested the assistance of the EFCC in securing office accommodation and the opportunity for her staff to train at the commission’s academy in Karu, Abuja.
Ibrahim further implored the commission to factor the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in its corporate social responsibility considerations.
Earlier, the refugees’ commission boss disclosed that she had launched a strategic framework designed to turn around the fortunes of the Commission.
She spoke passionately about the Project Zero Hunger aimed at meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and the Project Reliance which is a collaborative effort with the Central Bank of Nigeria to turn around the fortunes of the commission and improve the condition of persons that depend on her services.
She further disclosed that the Commission is poised to digitize its operations and was working in cooperation with the National Information and Technology Development Agency, NITDA to provide ICT training to 10,000 people.
The refugees’ commission boss also said she was exploring the possibility of working closely with state governors to look into the possibility of closing the existing refugee camps or turning them into settlements for those who cannot return to their homes.
Responding, the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa acknowledged the importance of the work of the Refugees Commission in the midst of the security challenges especially in the North East and North West and offered to support the Commission to achieve her mandate.
He expressed delight the Commission was thinking about improving its processes and procedures through the strategic framework.
He pointed out that the EFCC was already running with a similar vision through its Strategic Plan that minimizes the use of discretion in the fight against corruption. “I believe that you are on the right track based on what you have mentioned”, he said.
The EFCC boss promised to oblige the Refugees Commission the opportunity to train its personnel at the EFCC Academy which he said was recently renovated. However, he said a training needs assessment would be carried out to determine the type of training that is suitable to the Commission.
Bawa also said he welcomes the idea of designating focal persons or teams to facilitate the smooth interface between the two agencies. He added that he would prefer the focal person for the EFCC be drawn from the Special Control Unit Against Money laundering.
This, he explained, is informed by his concern over the alleged involvement of some international non-Governmental organizations in money laundering and terrorism financing activities.