The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Richard M. Mills Jr., has reaffirmed the strong and enduring partnership between the U.S. government and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This collaboration, he noted, remains vital to achieving meaningful progress in the fight against economic and financial crimes, as well as other forms of corruption.
Ambassador Mills made this statement on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, during a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He was accompanied by a delegation from the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.
“I am deeply grateful for the strong relationship we have established through our legal attaché and other offices. The U.S. government strongly supported the creation of the EFCC, and this partnership has remained steadfast over the years. My visit today is to understand the Chairman’s priorities for the EFCC, the emerging trends in financial crimes, and how the U.S. government and Mission can further support the Commission—whether through information sharing, expertise, or closer collaboration on specific cases,” Ambassador Mills stated.
He emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership, highlighting its broader impact on the prosperity and security of both nations. “These issues affect both our countries. Our shared goal is to foster a secure and prosperous Nigeria while strengthening both our economies,” he added.
Ambassador Mills underscored the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting the EFCC’s work in combating corruption, terrorism financing, and money laundering. “The EFCC is at the forefront of critical efforts to counter corruption, financial crimes, and terrorism financing. This is a high priority for the U.S. government and the Mission here in Nigeria. Our economic team closely monitors these issues, particularly anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing, and regularly engages with your staff,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr. Olukoyede expressed gratitude for the visit and the longstanding collaboration with the U.S. government. He outlined the EFCC’s core mandate to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and recover assets linked to economic and financial crimes. “Our mandate is not only to fight economic and financial crimes but also to prevent them. Asset recovery is a key aspect of our work, carried out under the directive of the Federal Executive Council, led by the President,” he explained.
Mr. Olukoyede reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties with the U.S. government, recognizing the historical value of their cooperation in fighting financial crimes. “The relationship between Nigeria and the United States in combating financial crimes has been one of strong synergy and mutual benefit. We are eager to build on this foundation and elevate our collaboration to new heights,” he stated.
He called for enhanced support in technology, intelligence gathering and sharing, and human capital development. “Most of our work is intelligence-driven, which underscores the importance of technology and information sharing. We seek your continued support in building capacity and improving response times to our requests, which would significantly enhance our operations,” Olukoyede said.
Mr. Olukoyede also highlighted recent efforts to combat visa fraud, which remains a challenge for foreign missions in Nigeria. “Last year, we established the Visa Application and Immigration Fraud Section within the EFCC, with dedicated desks across our zonal offices operating 24/7. This initiative has yielded positive results, but we need further support in information exchange and technological resources to strengthen this effort. The Nigerian government remains committed to working with the United States to advance our shared interests,” he concluded.
