Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has sought the collaboration of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to checkmate fraudulent practices in the maritime sector.
The collaboration was sought by the NIWA’s Area Manager in charge of Borno and Yobe States, Mr. Faruq Imam, while on a courtesy visit to the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC.
Imam who noted that NIWA was created by the Federal Government to register, monitor and sanitise usage of waterways, decried the activities of some government agencies, private organisations and individuals that have negatively impacted on the nation’s economy.
He said, “These people failed to fulfill their obligations or refuse to seek for approval before and after using the waterways in the states and such has negatively impacted the nation’s economy.
“The National Inland Waterways Act clearly states that nobody should use waterways without approval from the Authority.
“There are cases that we are unable to resolve, therefore, we urge the EFCC to investigate this economic sabotage, and threat to national security and as well prosecute the culprits,” he said.
Responding, the Maiduguri Zonal Commander of EFCC, Oshodi Johnson, assured the NIWA’s team of the Commission’s commitment to actualising a Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes across the states.
“I urge the manager to, as a matter of urgency, write a petition against those agencies, organisations and individuals and submit to us, because this is an economic sabotage and we will investigate them accordingly and fish out defaulters.”
