The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has commended the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for prioritising the fight against corruption and illicit financial flows in its Country Programme for Nigeria (2026–2030).
Olukoyede gave the commendation on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at the launch of the programme. He described corruption as a grave threat to both national and global development, noting that all efforts aimed at combating it deserve recognition.
“For the EFCC, the programme’s emphasis on combating corruption and illicit financial flows is particularly significant. Corruption continues to impose enormous economic and social costs on our country. Hence, the imperative of sustained action to reverse the trend,” he said.
He observed that the launch of the programme comes at a critical time when Nigeria and the global community are grappling with evolving threats, including transnational organised crime, corruption, illicit financial flows, terrorism, and cyber-enabled offences.
According to him, combating corruption has become even more urgent as criminal networks increasingly exploit technological advancements, global financial systems, and governance gaps to move illicit funds across borders with alarming speed.
Olukoyede also expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership and institutional collaboration between the EFCC and UNODC. He noted that the Country Programme for Nigeria (2026–2030) is expected to have significant impact due to its focus on capacity building, inter-agency collaboration, and data-driven approaches to tackling organised crime.
He further stated that the programme aligns with the EFCC’s mandate and reinforces its broader commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
Meanwhile, the UNODC highlighted the importance of the Country Programme, citing Nigeria’s strategic position as Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, with a projected population of 400 million by 2050. The organisation noted that Nigeria holds immense potential to drive positive change across the region.
