Olukoyede lauds UNODC anti-corruption drive, warns on illicit financial flows

Ola Olukoyede, the executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has praised the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for prioritising anti-corruption and illicit financial flows in its Nigeria Country Programme (2026–2030).

He gave the commendation in Abuja on Friday, March 27, 2026 while giving a Goodwill Message at the launch of the Programme.

According to him, corruption remains a heinous threat to national and global development and every effort geared towards combating it is commendable

“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 imperatives of sustained action to turn the tide”, he said.

He noted that the launch of the Programme came at a critical moment when Nigeria and the rest of the world continue to grapple with evolving threats of transnational organized crime, corruption, illicit financial flows, terrorism, and cyber-enabled offences.

Combating corruption, he said, became imperative as criminal networks now exploit advances in technology, global financial systems, and governance gaps to move illicit proceeds across jurisdictions with alarming speed.

“Confronting these challenges requires coordinated national responses, strong institutions and sustained international cooperation”, he said.

The EFCC’s boss particularly appreciated the long-standing relationship and institutional collaboration between the EFCC and UNODC stressing that the Country Programme for Nigeria 2026-2030 would be impactful owing to its focus on capacity development, inter agency collaboration and data-driven approaches to addressing organized crime and also because the Programme “align with the EFCC’s mandate and broader commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework”.

The UNODC says that the Country Programme matters owing to the strategic importance of Nigeria “as Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation with a projected 400 million inhabitants by 2050. Nigeria holds significant potential to drive positive regional change”.

The launch of the programme drew massive attendance of players in the judiciary; ministries, departments and agencies, including National Judicial Institute, NJI; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA; Nigeria Police Force, NPF, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, among others.