From Marcel Duru, Owerri.
Federal Government’s allocation of a new EFCC Zonal Directorate to Awka, Anambra State, to serve the industrial towns of Onitsha, Nnewi and Owerri has generated anger in parts of South Eastern States, with communities saying they need roads and industries instead of anti-graft offices. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, inaugurating the office recently, said that From the industrial towns of Onitsha and Nnewi, to the oil and gas town of Egbema and the rapidly growing economic city of Owerri, Imo State, the presence of EFCC will improve the ease of doing business. In his contribution Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo highlighted that some people might be asking why we are so excited about having the zonal office in our state. The reason is that it will enhance quicker investigation. Similarly Imo Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma, present at the event, responded, “We commend EFCC for bringing its services closer to residents of the two states, but we appeal for a dedicated state office in Imo to enhance its coverage.”
Nsokpo, Mbaitoli LGA in Imo State President-General, Nsokpo Dynamic Association, Chief Fidelis Nwaigwe, also disclosed that Federal Government allocates EFCC to Onitsha axis instead of projects we asked for. Our Nsokpo-Ifakala-Nwaorieubi Road and Nsokpo-Lawa-Ohi Road have been abandoned since 2019. We wrote to Works Ministry, no response. Now they say they gave us EFCC in Awka. EFCC will not carry our cassava to market, EFCC will not take our pregnant women to hospital.However, Orlu Zone Secretary, Orlu zurumee Youth Assembly, Comrade Ifeanyi Enwerem, stated thatOn October 12 they petitioned EFCC about N118.1 billion LGA funds for 12 LGAs in Orlu. No roads, no water, no health centre, no electricity. FG says they allocated EFCC to us, is EFCC a project? we want Egbema power plant, Orlu-Akokwa road, not an office in Awka. In the Same vein Owerri Main Market Trader, Mrs. Victoria Iaueze, said that every allocation to Imo is either Tiger Base, Army checkpoint or now EFCC. Where is the federal industrial park they promised for Owerri? Our children graduate and have no job, then EFCC will come and arrest them for yahoo. Give us work first.” Chairman, Onitsha Drug Market Taskforce, Mr. Chibuzor Udeh, welcomed it: “If EFCC is in Awka, it will help clean fake drugs and 419 that spoil genuine business in Onitsha. So it is also development, but FG should also bring dry port and power.” The EFCC management said the new directorate will serve over 10 million traders and industrialists across Onitsha and Owerri corridors.
