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N/Delta: EFCC, DSS partner on fight against oil theft

From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called for support of the Department of State Services, DSS, in fighting oil theft and other maritime-related economic crimes in the Niger Delta region.

The new Zonal Head of the Port Harcourt office of the Commission, ACP Usman Imam, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Rivers State headquarters of the DSS in Port Harcourt.

The EFCC Zonal Head, who was received by the State Director of DSS, H. B Abdullahi, in his office, said the leadership of the Commission had the visit with a view to deepening the existing partnership and collaboration between the two agencies.

Imam said: “Though I have been in the EFCC for over a decade, I am new in Port Harcourt and will need the support of critical stakeholders as the EFCC cannot do it alone.”

He observed that economic crimes peculiar to the Niger Delta region were complex and multidimensional, making effective deterrence contingent on robust synergy and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

The EFCC zonal boss assured the Service of his preparedness to render any assistance in furtherance of a common national objective of a safe, secure and prosperous Nigeria.

Responding, the DSS state Director, Mr Abdullahi commended the excellent relationship between the EFCC and the DSS in Rivers State. “Take it from me, the synergy is 100 per cent. The relationship with EFCC has been wonderful and we hope it continues,” he said.

Similarly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Nigerian Postal Service have restated the need to strengthen their existing partnership and collaboration.

The agencies restated the partnership on Friday, when Mrs Funmilayo Esiri, the District Postal Manager of NIPOST in Port Harcourt led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Zonal Head of the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, ACP Usman Imam.

Mrs Esiri who was accompanied by Mr Ogbudu Chukwuman, Manager, EMS, James Udo, Postal Manager and Godwin Akpan, Manager Corporate Communication, said she was in EFCC Zonal office to welcome Imam who recently assumed headship of the zone.

She commended the zone’s patronage of NIPOST which, according to her, accounted for a significant ratio of her earnings in 2019. “Last year we earned approximately N2.9million from mails delivered for the EFCC Port Harcourt Zone,” she disclosed.

To serve the Commission better, Esiri pointed out some of the challenges faced by her organisation which she want the commission to address. These included irregular addresses and the refusal by some addressees to accept their mails, among others.

Responding, the new zonal head, Imam thanked the NIPOST delegation for the visit, while assuring that the challenges identified would be addressed. He however charged them to ensure timely delivery of mails, with due acknowledgement as evidence of such delivery.

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