The Oba of Lagos, His Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has expressed strong disapproval of the increasing prevalence of the “get-rich-quick” mentality among Nigerian youths, stressing that such behavior is discouraged by both the Bible and the Quran.
During a courtesy visit by senior officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to his palace in Lagos, the monarch noted, “The get-rich-quick syndrome is wrong and should be discouraged. Even the two holy books, the Bible and the Holy Quran, frown at it.”
In a statement shared by the EFCC via its X handle on Tuesday, Oba Akiolu warned that the pursuit of wealth without hard work or integrity is a major driver of cybercrime and fraud, particularly among the younger generation.
He called on the EFCC to remain committed in its efforts to restore moral standards in the country.
While welcoming the EFCC delegation, led by the acting director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmad Ghali, the Oba pledged the full support of the traditional institution toward the agency’s anti-corruption mission.
“Your presence here today is a mark of respect, not only to the traditional institution of Lagos but to the enduring values of integrity, justice and collaboration.
“I am pleased to receive you on this important visit and to assure you of my fatherly support and wise counsel,” he stated.
Commending the EFCC for its unwavering efforts in combating corruption and economic crimes, the monarch emphasized that the anti-corruption campaign is a collective duty.
“The fight against corruption is a task that demands the strength of institutions, the wisdom of leadership, and the unity of the people,” he added.
In his remarks, Ghali expressed gratitude to the Oba for the royal audience and disclosed the establishment of EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi, aimed at strengthening the fight against financial crimes in the region.
He highlighted the influential role of traditional rulers in shaping values and expressed concern over the growing incidents of internet fraud and land scams in Lagos.
“Almost daily, the directorate is inundated with credible intelligence about alleged involvement of youths in cybercrimes across various communities. Another major concern is the growing number of land fraud cases, which now form a significant portion of our caseload,” Ghali said.
He appealed for the monarch’s support, stating, “Ka’biyesi, I am counting on your support because your voice is deeply respected and carries tremendous influence.
“As a revered king and a retired super cop, you are uniquely positioned to advise us on navigating the complex terrain of economic and financial crimes and flushing out non-state actors from their hideouts.”