Abuja: Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has called for stronger collaboration to curb trans-border crimes and enhance peace, stability, and economic prosperity of the subregion. Olukoyede, who is also the President of Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), made the call at the 7th Annual General Assembly of the network in Abuja. He expressed gratitude to delegates and reaffirmed NACIWA’s role as a unifying platform for regional anti-corruption collaboration. He urged members to use the Assembly as ‘a renewal of vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to combating corruption, which remains a key obstacle to our region’s development and stability.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Olukoyede stated that the network had proposed its formal recognition as a Technical Commission under ECOWAS Protocol Article 19, which would institutionalise coordination on investigations, asset recovery, and anti-corruption policies across the subregion. He emphasized the evolving landscape in which the institutions operate, highlighting the impact of political transitions, security concerns, and governance challenges across member states. He noted that these factors underscore the importance of linking the fight against corruption with broader considerations of political stability and social justice.
Olukoyede also highlighted the network’s achievements since he assumed office in 2022. Despite challenges, the current executive committee has repositioned NACIWA into a ‘more dynamic and credible platform for regional collaboration.’ The organisation has achieved several key milestones, including enhanced regional visibility and formal recognition by ECOWAS. Institutional strengthening has been achieved through the establishment of a permanent secretariat in Nigeria, and financial operability has been ensured through standardized membership dues and control mechanisms. Additionally, partnerships have been deepened with key stakeholders, such as ECOWAS, UNODC, and the AU Anti-Corruption Board. Other highlights include observer status at the GlobE Network and the designation of the EFCC Academy as a Centre of Excellence for capacity development.
Sen. Emmanuel Udende, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, remarked that the event’s theme was timely, given corruption’s role in insecurity and poor governance. He stressed that the trans-border nature of corruption necessitates going beyond national efforts to embrace strong regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint asset recovery. He pledged the legislature’s support in providing the necessary legal framework for international cooperation.
Rep. Ginger Onwusibe, Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, represented by Nnamdi Ezechukwu, emphasized that corruption does not respect borders. It infiltrates systems, banks, pockets, and politics, necessitating cross-border efforts to combat it.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, represented by Vice President Damtien Tchintchibidja, praised EFCC’s leadership for strengthening NACIWA’s role in fostering regional synergy. She noted that NACIWA has made significant strides in promoting collaboration but emphasized the need to further intensify cooperation.
Other dignitaries at the event included Amb. Gautier Mignot, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, as well as representatives from UNODC, International IDEA, Code of Conduct Bureau, and civil society organisations. The event also featured a panel discussion moderated by Yusuf Rafsanjani of CISLAC, with panelists drawn from Liberia, C´te d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Nigeria. The discussion focused on strategies for strengthening collaboration in asset recovery and information exchange.
