President Bola Tinubu has called for enhanced collaboration between Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to combat cybercrime, terrorism, and related crimes. Receiving FBI Director Christopher Wray at the State House, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of partnership in fighting financial crimes and terrorism.
“It is an honour for me to receive Director Christopher Wray, the leader of an organisation that has demonstrated consistent procedural sophistication and a reputation for excellence over several years. Your visit conveys the importance of Nigeria and Nigerian partnership in the work of America’s law enforcement institutions and vice-versa,” President Tinubu said.
The President highlighted his administration’s priority on education to address poverty, a driver of criminal activities. He sought US support for developing countries to combat complex international crimes through technology and knowledge transfer.
“We cannot achieve this important feat of eliminating crimes without collaboration. Incidentally, as the Chairman of ECOWAS, Nigeria is also collaborating with other West African countries to fight economic and other related crimes,” President Tinubu added.
Director Wray said he was in the country to enhance the “outstanding partnership” that exists between the government of Nigeria and the government of the United States. He lauded President Tinubu for supporting the growing partnerships between various agencies of government and the FBI.
“We appreciate the President’s vision in countering terrorism in the region, which is a dangerous threat, not only to the countries in the region but also to the United States. We appreciate your support and collaboration on cyber-enabled crimes and sextortion, which has unfortunately resulted in a few tragic deaths in the United States,” Director Wray said.
EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, who also met with the FBI Director, said fighting cybercrime is a priority area of its collaboration with the FBI. He unfolded EFCC’s plans to place emphasis on prevention and adherence to the Rule of Law.
“We are willing to continue and develop ideas that would be of mutual benefit to both agencies and ensure that the issue of cybercrime will take utmost priority in our scale of preference and also ensure that sextortion that has become a major challenge to us is taken very seriously,” Olukoyede said.
He thanked FBI for sustaining its cooperation with EFCC over the years and unfolded the three-point agenda of his administration, which includes using the instrumentality of the anti-corruption fight to stimulate the economy, ensuring that businesses registered in Nigeria play by the rules, and using the activities of the EFCC to improve the international image of Nigeria.