Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ola Olukoyede has asked Nigerians to reject corruption as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.
Olukoyede made the appeal in Abuja on Thursday, 1 October, 2026, in his Independence Anniversary message to Nigerians.
He said Nigerians must show accountable conduct and reject corruption to give value to the government’s ongoing reforms.
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The EFCC chairman also said the country had made progress in nation building since gaining independence.
“At 66, Nigeria has come a long way. Independence has offered us liberty and self-determination. We are also making considerable progress in nation building,” he said.
Corruption and reform
Olukoyede said the reforms being undertaken in the country should not be separated from the need to reject corrupt practices.
He praised the work being done to develop what he called the commanding heights of the polity, describing them as “building blocks of the greater nation we desire”.
He then asked Nigerians to match those reforms with a firm rejection of corruption.
“Let’s therefore couple all our reform-focused initiatives with zero tolerance for corruption,” Olukoyede said.
His message reiterates accountability alongside the reforms as a condition for giving them value.
The EFCC chairman did not identify any particular reform or institution in the message. His appeal was directed at Nigerians generally.
Why the message matters
Olukoyede said corruption could weaken the work being done to build the country.
“We cannot be building and allow corrupt practices to vitiate our efforts,” he said.
He said progress requires Nigerians to reject compromises that allow corrupt practices to continue.
“Progress only comes with purposeful rejection of compromises. Nigeria will surely get better!” he said.
The EFCC chairman also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future and stressed the need to reject corrupt practices in all their forms.
What readers should understand
Nigeria became independent in 1960 and is marking its 66th Independence Anniversary on 1 October, 2026.
Olukoyede’s message addresses the conduct of Nigerians as the country carries out reforms and works on nation building.
His insists that reforms and development should go with accountability and a refusal to accept corruption.
He said Nigeria had travelled a long distance since independence and had made progress in building the nation.
But he also said such progress should not be allowed to suffer from corrupt practices.
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