Cross River government has commenced a two-day strategic level anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) Workshop for its senior officials.
This is aimed at reaffirming zero-tolerance stance on corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing.
Organised through the State Planning Commission, the event held at Monty Suites, Calabar, attracted top public officers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Declaring the workshop open, the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, described the training as timely and strategic, noting that it would significantly strengthen financial prudence and governance in the State.
“I have gone through the programme of events and I am pleased with what I have seen.
“This training is going to strengthen us financially, strengthen how we do things in Cross River and make us more prudent in the way we manage public funds,” the governor said.
According to him, his administration has zero tolerance for fraud, money laundering and related financial crimes, warning that, any official found culpable would face dire consequences.
He charged participants to fully internalize the training and cascade the knowledge to colleagues not in attendance, especially at the local government level, emphasizing that the workshop should serve as a guard against actions capable of exposing officials to anti-corruption agencies.
Otu assured that such capacity-building programmes would be sustained and possibly held more frequently to continuously reinforce ethical financial practices.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the State Planning Commission, Dr. Bong Duke, described the workshop as a strategic intervention aimed at protecting the state’s economy, strengthening governance structures and safeguarding public resources.
Duke noted that money laundering and terrorism financing pose real threats to economic stability and sustainable development, maintaining that, public officials are custodians of trust whose actions directly impact the state’s future.
He explained that the training was designed to move participants beyond awareness to practical competence in identifying risks, strengthening controls and enforcing compliance in line with both national and international standards.
Lead Facilitator and former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Ade Shonubi, commended Cross River government for its foresight and commitment to good governance.
He reasoned that the decision to prioritize a strategic-level engagement for senior officials demonstrated strong leadership and dedication to transparency and accountability.
Shonubi noted that the recent removal of Nigeria from the global grey list marked progress, cautioning that, sustained effort was required at both federal and sub-national levels.
He stressed that effective AML/CFT implementation at the state level was critical to protecting public finances, strengthening institutions and boosting investor confidence.
Also speaking, the Accountant General of the State, Dr. Glory Effiong, described the workshop as a crucial step towards sustaining the state’s growing reputation for financial credibility and investor friendliness.
She affirmed that the administration of Otu remains committed to building a transparent, accountable and corruption-resistant financial system.
According to her, participants were carefully selected to ensure continuity and long-term impact, urging them to go beyond theory while applying the lessons learnt to daily operations.
Effiong expressed confidence that the training would further position Cross River as a leading state in financial governance.
Participants at the workshop included Directors of Finance and Procurement, principal officers in MDAs, as well as selected audit, legal and treasury staff.
