With the start of a two-day Strategic Level Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the funding of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Workshop for top government officials, the Cross River State Government has reiterated its zero-tolerance position on corruption, money laundering, and terrorism funding.
Top public officials from various ministries, departments, and agencies attended the workshop, which was organized by the state government through the State Planning Commission and held at Monty Suites in Calabar. The duration will be two days.
Governor Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, announced the workshop’s opening on Thursday. He called the training strategic and timely, pointing out that it would greatly improve Cross River State’s financial prudence and governance.
“I have gone through the program of events and I am pleased with what I have seen,” he declared.
He continued, “This training is going to strengthen us financially, strengthen how we do things in Cross River State, and make us more prudent in the way we manage public funds.”
He emphasized that fraud, money laundering, and related financial crimes are not tolerated by the Otu-led administration and warned that any official found guilty would face severe repercussions.
“Anything related to fraud or money laundering will not be tolerated by this administration. We won’t think twice about upholding discipline because those who have engaged in such behavior are already aware of the repercussions,” he declared.
Odey emphasized that the workshop should operate as a shield against activities that could expose officials to anti-corruption authorities and urged attendees to completely internalize the training and cascade the knowledge to colleagues who were not there, particularly at the local government level. In order to consistently uphold ethical financial practices, he promised that such capacity-building initiatives would be maintained and even conducted more regularly.
Dr. Bong Duke, the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the State Planning Commission, characterized the workshop earlier in his welcoming speech as a strategic intervention meant to defend public resources, develop governance systems, and protect the state’s economy.
Money laundering and the funding of terrorism are serious dangers to economic stability and sustainable growth, according to Dr. Duke, who also pointed out that public servants are trustees whose decisions have a direct bearing on the future of the state.
He clarified that the goal of the training was to advance participants from awareness to practical competence in risk identification, control strengthening, and enforcing compliance in accordance with national and international standards.
Dr. Ade Shonubi, the Lead Facilitator and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, praised the Cross River State Government for its vision and dedication to sound administration.
He claimed that the choice to give top priority to a strategic-level interaction with senior officials showed good leadership and a dedication to accountability and openness.
Although Shonubi acknowledged that Nigeria’s recent removal from the global gray list represented progress, he warned that continued work at the federal and subnational levels was necessary.
He emphasized that safeguarding public funds, fortifying institutions, and fostering investor trust all depended on the successful implementation of AML/CFT at the state level.
Speaking as well, Dr. Glory Effiong, the Accountant General of Cross River State, characterized the workshop as an essential step in maintaining the state’s expanding reputation for investment friendliness and financial reliability. She stated that Governor Otu’s government is still dedicated to creating a financial system that is accountable, transparent, and resistant to corruption.
She claims that in order to guarantee continuity and long-term impact, participants were carefully chosen, encouraging them to apply the principles learnt to everyday operations rather than just theory. She was optimistic that the training will strengthen Cross River’s standing as a top financial governance state.
Directors of finance and procurement, major executives at MDAs, and a few audit, legal, and treasury personnel attended the session.
The goal of the training is to give them the practical skills they need to manage AML/CFT risks, improve procurement transparency, identify and stop suspicious transactions, and match state financial procedures with national and international best practices.
