Beware of fraudsters! *Peace Corps of Nigeria alert *We’re the authentic, says Commandant Aniefiok Effiong

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

Peace Corps of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Command have raised alarm over some unscrupulous organisations who are parading themselves as the Nigerian Peace Corps, going about the State to extort hard earned money from unsuspecting youths and parents to the tune of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000.00) and above to some that cannot bargain on the said amount. 

Briefing newsmen last Thursday at La Sien event centre, Uyo, the State capital, the State Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, F/Lt. Aniefiok Effiong alerted the general public to be properly guided against such malicious extortionists, saying that the only authentic form(s) on sale can only be obtained at the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Command, 12 Udo Eduok Street, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the cost of One Thousand Five Hundred Naira (N1,500.00) only and training fee is Forty Thousand Naira (N40,000.00) only.

He noted that anyone dealing with the imposters is doing that at their own risk. According to him, “It is worthy to note that the real Nigeria Peace Corps bill established by the act of parliament of 24th November 2016 and 9th July, 2016 is headed by the National Commandant, Amb. (Dr) Dickson A. O. Akoh FCITr, FCPA and in the State by F/Lt. Aniefiok Effiong. Permit me to establish another very important fact, the overall head of our organization is known and address as the NATIONAL COMMANDANT (NC), not Commandant General as professed by these imposters. Also the ministry that shall supervise the activities of the Nigerian Peace Corps when finally assented to by Mr. President is the Federal Ministry of Youth and Development not the Federal Ministry of Interior as propaganded by the miscreant.”

He said “It is a well known fact that this out – going year has really been turbulent for all and sundry for reasons that are quite too obvious for me to begin to recount here. And of course, our organization is equally a partaker in the turbulence associated with the year under review; but the good news is that in spite of these regrettable vicissitudes that have conspired to frustrate the best of intentions of both individuals and corporate organizations, we have managed through deft organizational strategies and proper planning to keep our head afloat the stormy waters. And through this means, we have been able to record modest achievement sin the year under review.” 

F/Lt. Aniefiok Effiong further maintained that It is a thing of joy that their organization turned 18 in 2016 which the wonderful occasion was celebrated with pomp and pageantry, adding that the epoch making event featured Anniversary parade at the Eagle Square, Abuja and Gala Night at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, where the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Award was introduced. He disclosed that the occasion was attended by the Crème de la Crème of the Nigerian Society. 

“Gentlemen of the press, it might interest you to know that as part of our corporate social responsibility, this organization visited Suleja Prisons this year, where we donated relief materials and 40 facilitated release of inmates with pardonable crimes were set free. In the same vein, the Akwa Ibom State Command visited the Band of Hope Motherless Babies Home, Eket and also provided succour to the widows and less privilege in few churches across the State. The African Union granted this Organization a Special Consultative Status under its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The ECOSOC holds the African Union’s mandate for youth affairs, peace and development.”

Furthermore, the commandant said that in 2016, the organization signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hajiya Hadiza Buhari’s Africa Support & Empowerment Initiative (AFRISE) for the rehabilitation of the released 12 Chibok girl, determined to give the girls a new lease of life, the organization donated three million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N3, 500,000.00) only to this noble course. 

According to him, “Worthy of note also  that this organization has opened its Local Government Commands and extended the tentacles of its activities t about 30% of private schools in the State, where before now we are not in existence. With this development, the Peace Corps of Nigeria now has its presence in all the Local Government Council of Akwa Ibom State. 

I therefore stand tall to say that this achievement alone is uncommon to any youth organization in Nigeria. Above all, the icing on the cake of modest attainments this year is the passage of a Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps by both Chambers of the National Assembly. This Bill, which seeks to give statutory backing to this organization is at the stage of harmonization, after which it would be transmitted to the Presidency for Mr. President’s assent.”

He stated emphatically that those expressing misgivings about the organization that it will be another drain pipe on government resources greatly miss the point, saying that it is no longer contestable that Nigeria, which is currently in the grip of recession, is also greatly under policed, in spite of avalanche of security agencies available even as he noted that the Nigeria Peace Corps, apart from creating job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths, will also play a significant role in the nation’s security architecture.