…..Says no hiding place for corrupt officials
……Flags off Knowledge Zone project
By Tolulope Eniola
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the fight against corruption, declaring that corrupt public officials would have no hiding place as efforts to strengthen accountability and anti-graft institutions across the country intensify.
The President, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, made the declaration in Ado-Ekiti during the commissioning of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Zonal Directorate Office Complex and the inauguration of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Flyover, while also performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone project.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, joined his Ekiti State counterpart, Biodun Oyebanji, in receiving the Vice-President, who also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone project.
Speaking at the EFCC event, Shettima said recent convictions secured by the anti-graft agency, including those of a former minister, a former Accountant-General and a former bank director, showed that corruption would no longer be tolerated irrespective of status or position.
According to him, the convictions, which attracted jail terms of 75 years, 72 years and 490 years respectively, underscored the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure that acts of corruption are punished strictly in accordance with the law.
He maintained that no nation could rise above the integrity of its public institutions, warning that development suffers whenever corruption is allowed to thrive.
Describing the EFCC as a critical institution established to protect public trust, defend the economy from criminal enterprises and uphold accountability in governance, the Vice-President urged the commission and other anti-graft agencies to sustain the momentum until corruption is reduced to the barest minimum in both the public and private sectors.
Shettima commended EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, for what he described as a firm and aggressive pursuit of the anti-corruption campaign and assured that the Federal Government would continue to provide law enforcement agencies with the facilities and support required to enhance their effectiveness.
He expressed confidence that the newly commissioned facility would further motivate personnel to intensify the fight against economic and financial crimes.
The Vice-President noted that the EFCC occupies a strategic position in the Federal Government’s economic reform and national security agenda, adding that the commission had recorded notable gains against cybercrime, terrorism financing and illicit financial flows.
He cited the dismantling of a foreign-controlled cryptocurrency syndicate in Lagos, which led to the conviction of 192 foreigners, as well as the exposure of Ponzi schemes and contributions to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
According to him, recovered assets are already funding key national intervention programmes, including the Student Loan Scheme and CreditCorp.
In his remarks, Governor Oyebanji expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the siting of the EFCC Zonal Directorate in Ado-Ekiti, describing it as a major boost to the fight against economic and financial crimes in Ekiti and Ondo states.
He disclosed that when Olukoyede informed him about plans to establish the office about a year ago, the state government immediately embraced the proposal and pledged support towards its successful delivery.
Apart from providing accommodation, the governor said the state government supplied a 220kVA standby generator to guarantee uninterrupted power supply.
Oyebanji explained that before the establishment of the office, Ado-Ekiti fell under the Ilorin Zonal Directorate while Ondo State was under the Benin Zonal Directorate, making access to EFCC services difficult, expensive and stressful.
According to him, many victims of economic and financial crimes were discouraged from pursuing justice because of repeated long-distance journeys, while investigations were often hampered by logistical challenges.
“With the completion and commissioning of this complex, it is our hope that all those challenges are now relegated to the past,” he said.
The governor assured the commission of continuous cooperation while maintaining its independence and integrity, stressing that his administration has zero tolerance for corruption and financial impropriety.
Earlier, Olukoyede described the inauguration of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate as a major milestone in deepening the fight against financial crimes and bringing enforcement closer to the people.
He said the establishment of the office became necessary to decentralise operations and eliminate the burden of long-distance travel previously faced by residents of Ekiti and Ondo states seeking EFCC services.
Olukoyede commended the Ekiti State Government for providing land and support for the project, stressing, however, that such support would not shield any institution from scrutiny.
The EFCC chairman disclosed that the commission had adopted a stronger preventive strategy through fraud risk assessments, collaboration with ministries, departments and agencies, as well as state governments, and the identification of systemic leakages.
He cited interventions in Kaduna State that improved revenue generation through reforms in land administration and the judiciary.
Warning that fraudsters would have no hiding place within the new zone, Olukoyede highlighted the commission’s efforts against cybercrime and illegal mining across the South-West.
He stated that recovered proceeds of crime had funded the Student Loan Scheme benefiting about 1.4 million students, consumer credit initiatives and the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kaduna.
According to him, recovered funds had also supported institutions such as NNPCL, FIRS, NDDC and AMCON and contributed to Nigeria’s exit from the FATF grey list.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, described the commissioning as a collective commitment to strengthening institutions, promoting accountability and enhancing public confidence in systems established to protect the nation’s economic and financial integrity.
He said the facility would improve operational efficiency, facilitate quicker responses to emerging threats and bring the commission closer to the people.
Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adejimi Alagbado, commended President Tinubu, Governor Oyebanji and the EFCC leadership for facilitating the project.
The monarch urged residents to support the anti-corruption agency by reporting suspicious activities and assisting efforts aimed at tackling corruption.
Meanwhile, Shettima commissioned the 1.2-kilometre President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Flyover along Okeyinmi-Ajilosun Road in Ado-Ekiti, describing it as yet another promise fulfilled by Governor Oyebanji.
The Vice-President said the project, completed within a record period, reflected the governor’s commitment to delivering on his promises to the people.
He noted that the flyover was constructed by a local company using local content and funded entirely with state resources.
According to him, improved allocations from the Federal Government had enabled many states to undertake major developmental projects without resorting to borrowing.
Shettima therefore commended President Tinubu for ensuring transparency in the distribution of resources to states and urged Ekiti residents to support Oyebanji in the forthcoming governorship election.
Recalling that Tinubu secured 201,494 votes, representing 67 per cent of votes cast in Ekiti during the 2023 presidential election, the Vice-President expressed confidence that residents would reciprocate what he described as the governor’s landmark achievements.
“BAO has done his best. BAO has transformed an agrarian rural state into a modern state,” he said.
Earlier, Oyebanji attributed the achievements recorded by his administration over the last four years largely to the support of President Tinubu.
“I have the opportunity to thank the Almighty God for this project and to thank Mr President for the support he has given to us as a government. Whatever achievements we might have achieved in the state in the last close to four years, after God, the glory and all the accolades should go to Mr President for his support,” he said.
The governor announced that the flyover had been named the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Flyover in appreciation of the President’s support for the state.
He also commended officials of the Ministry of Works and the indigenous contractor that handled the project, saying the company had demonstrated its capacity to compete favourably with foreign firms.
Commissioner for Works, Sola Adebayo, said the flyover was conceived to address traffic congestion, improve road safety and stimulate economic activities in the state capital.
According to him, the project was designed to improve traffic flow, reduce travel time, stimulate business activities and beautify Ado-Ekiti.
Adebayo noted that despite doubts in some quarters over its completion amid economic challenges, the project was successfully delivered through prudent resource management, fiscal discipline and effective planning.
He also thanked President Tinubu for approving critical federal road projects in Ekiti State in the 2026 budget, including the Ita-Ude–Aramoko–Ado-Ekiti Road and the Aramoko–Ijero–Ifaki Road.
Managing Director of Step Development Limited, Engr. Adunola Oseni, said the company deliberately promoted local content through the engagement of local artisans, utilisation of locally sourced materials and the training of students from tertiary institutions.
He said the project created employment opportunities, enhanced skills acquisition and facilitated knowledge transfer among residents.
Oseni praised Oyebanji for what he described as transformational leadership and assured the governor of the company’s continued partnership in building a stronger and more prosperous state.
Also speaking at the flyover inauguration, Oba Alagbado linked the successful execution of the project to reforms introduced by President Tinubu, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy.
He said the policy had made more resources available for development projects and improved the capacity of governments to meet critical obligations.
The monarch, however, appealed to the Federal Government to tackle insecurity decisively, expressing concern over the activities of armed herders and the threat posed by porous borders to national unity and development.
At the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone the Vice President Kashim Shettima expressed confidence that the project will evolve into a major hub for innovation, research, skills development and job creation in Nigeria.
He commended Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for sustaining the vision behind the project and providing the leadership needed to bring it to fruition.
Describing Ekiti as the home of scholars, the President said the Knowledge Zone possesses the potential to unlock the talents of Nigerians and position them for global relevance.
He noted that education remains the greatest asset of the Ekiti people and praised Governor Oyebanji for demonstrating visionary leadership through strategic partnerships and investments in human capital development.
He described the project as a masterpiece that aligns with the developmental model of countries such as Singapore, where education and technological innovation serve as catalysts for economic growth.
According to him, the Federal Government remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote research, innovation and technological advancement as part of efforts to create employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.
“Under President Tinubu’s administration, we are gradually moving from dependency to sustainability and self-sufficiency. We are determined to encourage research, innovation and technological development to create jobs for our teeming youths,” the Vice President stated.
Speaking at the event, Governor Oyebanji said the Ekiti Knowledge Zone was conceived to harness the vast intellectual potential of Ekiti people and position the state as a global centre for innovation, research, skills acquisition and human capital development.
The governor recalled that the project was initiated on August 12, 2013, during the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, with the objective of developing the capacity of Ekiti citizens and driving economic growth.
He explained that his administration decided to sustain the project in line with its continuity agenda and commitment to investments in technology, industrialisation, healthcare, science, research and innovation.
Oyebanji disclosed that the state had secured an $80 million funding package through the Federal Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to facilitate the implementation of the project.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the AfDB for their support, noting that the EKZ had earlier been designated a Free Trade Zone during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The Ekiti Knowledge Zone is not only poised to become a leading innovation hub in Africa, but also a world-class economic ecosystem that will stimulate industrial growth, technological advancement, skills acquisition and employment generation,” the governor said.
He added that the first phase of the project is expected to create more than 20,000 jobs, while full completion of all phases will generate about 100,000 jobs across sectors such as research, science, technology, education and industrial development.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Eric Shem, commended the Federal Government, Ekiti State Government and the African Development Bank for their collaboration on the project.
He said the initiative would attract investments, strengthen human capital development and positively transform the future of the country.
Shem assured stakeholders that the project would be delivered within schedule to enable the state and the nation reap its economic and social benefits.
Dignitaries at the event included
Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Stephen Aribasoye; Chief of Staff, Ekiti and Ondo States, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo and Prince Segun Omojuwa; Members of Ekiti State Executive Council; Members of Ekiti State House of Assembly; Ondo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chiefancy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro; Special Adviser to Ondo State Govenor on Union Matters and Special Duties, Comrade Bola Taiwo; Chief of Army Staff, Chief Olufemi Oluyede; Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Traditional rulers; Heads of Security Agencies.
Discover more from Trace News Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
