The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Friday said it would embark on aggressive awareness campaign against the activities of touts around its offices nationwide.
The Council’s Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Damianus Ojijeogu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that touts had caused financial losses to persons coming to collect their results.
Ojijeogu said the Council had over the years been deploying resources to tackle touting around its offices, adding that the campaign would continue until the touts were completely dislodged.
He added that “these people have been a menace around our offices and we have not been taking it easy with them.
“Each time they succeed in swindling innocent people of their hard-earned money with the promise of assisting them to execute whatever business they come for in the council’s offices, these touts end up in our offices to look for a way out.
“Often times, they blame WAEC because these touts usually tell these innocent persons that they were staff of the council.
“On most occasions, we get them arrested and detained but somehow they get bail and before you know it, they are back to business.
“Some of them are no longer afraid to tell us that they are not perturbed, and that they are ready to face any category of law enforcement personnel.’’
The spokesman said a consistent and massive enlightenment campaign would discourage the patronage of touts around the council’s premises in Nigeria.
Ojijeogu said the campaign would kick-off anytime soon in Lagos, and later spread to other zonal offices across the country.
He, however, warned the public, especially private candidates, to ensure that they walk right into WAEC offices for enquiries on any related transactions.
He said WAEC was worried about touting that it mounted signposts around its offices to discourage people from patronising touts, and to stop seeking assistance outside its offices.
