The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has advised hotel owners and other players in the tourism industry in Abia State to comply with the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act by reporting any suspected illicit financial activities involving their customers.
The EFCC also praised the Abia State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy for the promotional and regulatory roles it is playing in the state’s tourism sector.
The Commission, which spoke through Abubakar Nafiu, personnel from its Department of Special Unit Against Money Laundering, urged hotel managers and travel agents to support Nigeria’s war against illicit funds and terrorism by reporting suspected individuals and activities to agencies including the EFCC, NDLEA, and NFIU.
In his speech, Abia State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mathew Ekwuribe, said his ministry has discovered fifty-five strategic tourism sites in Abia, including three caves, a blue river, a waterfall, and others.
Ekwuribe noted that with the support of Governor Alex Otti, his ministry is upgrading the tourist sites to create employment and generate revenue for the state.
Earlier in his speech, Governor Alex Otti, represented by his Chief of Staff, Caleb Ajagba, said that his administration is developing the state’s rich tourism sites to boost Abia’s economy.
Report suspected money laundering by guests – EFCC to hotel operators in Abia