The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that it will participate fully and exhibit at the 2014 edition of the annual Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX).
Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday when he received the Chairman of the NIMAREX 2014 Planning Committee, Mrs Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi, in his office.
Lamorde said that the maritime industry is critical to the nation’s economic development. He said that the Commission will be at the event to showcase its activities while assuring investors of the safety of their investment.
Speaking earlier, Onyema-Orakwusi, has lamented the inability of Nigeria to have its own shipping line, resulting in huge revenue loss to the country.
The NIMAREX boss said Nigeria as a major oil producer loses a lot of money to shipment since it doesn’t have its own line.
While commending the EFCC for its efforts to rid the Nigeria of economic and financial crimes, Onyema-Orakwusi said her visit was to brief the EFCC chairman on the forthcoming international maritime exhibition and conference scheduled for March in Lagos.
She appealed to the Commission to take a stand at the fair to showcase and educate stakeholders on its activities, explaining that the presence of EFCC at the expo will send a reassuring message to foreign investors of the closeness of the commission to all investor-related activities.
She added that the Commission deserves to have a place at the fair because of the credibility it will bring to bear on an event of such a scale.
“We need them (participants) to be educated. EFCC comes with a lot of credibility. We want you to be visible during the fair. It becomes necessary that we have you on ground during the fair because a lot of critical stakeholders in the maritime industry will be there.”
Onyema-Orakwusi who disclosed that participants at the fair will include both local and foreign investors said investors would be encouraged by an assurance from the EFCC that should anything happen to their investment; there is an organization they can report to and seek justice.
She said NIMAREX 2014 will be chaired by former President Ibrahim Babangida.
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