The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has identified illegal mining and other criminal activities as major threats to Nigeria’s economy.

EFCC acting EFCC chair Abdulkarim Chukkol said this at a one-day workshop the commission organised for journalists in Ilorin on Thursday.

Represented by the agency’s zonal head, Michael Nzekwe, Mr Chukkol noted that cybercrime was a major criminal activity perpetrated by undergraduates and fresh graduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions.

“The commission has been active in tackling their criminality and will continue to ensure that extant laws against illegal miners are enforced. Our work is engaging because the commission has been combatting the menace of corrupt practices, going by its impressive records of convictions, asset forfeitures and other tangible proofs of accomplishments over the years,” Mr Chukkol explained.

He added, “The reporting has also been arduous because our work is not static, and media have always been keeping pace with our speed and energy. This workshop is one of the modest efforts of the commission to build synergy and foster a more engaging relationship with the media.”

The anti-graft chief urged Nigerians not to wait until they suffer any loss on economic and financial crimes before they move against corrupt practices, as they remained a threat to all.

“It is not only by being a victim of these crimes that we suffer losses. We also suffer limitations when our neighbours, colleagues, institutions and nation fall prey to them,” Mr Chukkol stressed. “I charge the nation’s journalists on patriotism as you owe our nation and the entire world an obligation of exposing every shadiness and criminal act through reporting.”

He noted that journalism “is the best gateway” to whistleblowing.”

(NAN)