The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the fight against corruption, cybercrime, illicit financial flows, and transnational organized crime.
This pledge was made on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, during a courtesy visit by a UNODC delegation led by its Country Representative, Mr. Cheick Ousman Toure, to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
Toure underscored the strategic importance of Nigeria in the global anti-corruption landscape, commending its leadership in implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). He noted that UNODC’s partnership with Nigeria has evolved into a more structured approach with the recent adoption of a five-year country programme approved by the United Nations.
“UNODC is shifting from ad-hoc support to a comprehensive, jointly developed country programme. Nigeria’s leadership in anti-money laundering and other critical areas positions it as a model in the region,” Toure said.
He acknowledged growing global funding constraints, including an expected reduction in U.S. foreign aid from October 2025, and stressed the urgency of regionally driven solutions. “Illicit financial flows drain billions from Africa each year. Nigeria, being at the forefront, must continue to lead and influence sub-regional responses,” he added.
Toure also identified cybercrime, illegal mining, and local enforcement gaps as priority areas for enhanced cooperation. He lauded Nigeria’s alignment with the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and pledged UNODC’s support in strengthening the EFCC’s operational reach at the state and grassroots levels.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, while welcoming the delegation, expressed satisfaction with the agency’s long-standing relationship with UNODC. He called for broader collaboration in response to the evolving dynamics of transnational crime.
“We value our partnership with UNODC and are open to expanding it. The complexity of emerging crimes demands more robust international cooperation,” Olukoyede said.
He also highlighted the EFCC’s push for greater self-reliance, noting that the agency is developing indigenous funding mechanisms to reduce dependence on foreign aid. “We are taking ownership of our mandate and building domestic capacity to sustain our operations,” he stated.
Olukoyede further stressed the need for enhanced intelligence sharing across borders, citing EFCC’s leadership in the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA). He identified illegal mining as a growing avenue for money laundering and affirmed the Commission’s commitment to tackling the issue.
Both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating organized crime and corruption through a more strategic, collaborative, and sustainable framework.
