The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development have agreed to form a strategic alliance to combat corruption within the housing sector in Nigeria.
This development was made known recently when the ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC), in charge of Lagos State Office, Mr. Alexander Chukwurah, fsi, paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Controller, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, TPL Kemi Olayiwola and her team in Lagos.
According to the RACC, the visit was part of ICPC’s strategic move to deepen inter-agency collaboration and bolster anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria’s public sector. The housing sector is critical in ensuring better living standards for Nigerians, hence the need for this collaboration.
Mr. Chukwurah emphasized that the visit was not only a matter of courtesy but also a deliberate effort to build strategic partnerships in line with the Commission’s preventive mandate.
He noted that corruption has deeply permeated our society and called for a change in mindset, stressing that even acts of taking unfair advantage due to a position amount to corruption.
“The ICPC is not just about enforcement; we are also proactive in prevention and enlightenment. We aim to continue to sensitize public servants to understand the implications of corrupt practices and encourage them to uphold ethical standards in service delivery”, Chukwutah stated.
He further reiterated the importance of engaging with organizations like the Federal Ministry of Housing to educate staff across various offices in Lagos.
He seized the opportunity to reveal how corruption manifests in public service and also touched on the dynamics of money laundering, explaining the three major stages: placement, layering, and integration.
Responding, the Federal Controller of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in charge of Lagos State, Town Planner Kemi Olayiwola, welcomed ICPC’s initiative and expressed her team’s enthusiasm to collaborate with the Commission in the fight against corruption.
She noted that sensitizing staff was essential in shaping professional conduct, improving public relations, and reinforcing integrity in service delivery.
“This is timely and much needed,” she said. “Our staff will benefit from learning how to identify, resist, and report corrupt practices”, Kemi said.
The visit sets the stage for future anti-corruption sensitization programmes within the Ministry, reinforcing ICPC’s commitment to institutional integrity and national development.