The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening efforts against terrorism financing and illegal mining through strategic collaboration with international partners.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that the Commission is set to deepen cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Canadian Government to enhance capacity and scale up enforcement activities in these critical areas.
The assurance came during a courtesy visit by officials from the UNODC and Canada at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where discussions focused on tackling illicit financial flows linked to illegal mining and terrorism.
Olukoyede appreciated the longstanding support from both partners, noting that the EFCC has recorded significant progress, including multiple convictions related to illegal mining across its zonal commands.
He emphasized that evolving criminal tactics, driven by advanced technology, require continuous training, improved tools, and stronger international cooperation to effectively combat financial crimes.
Also speaking, EFCC’s Director of Investigation, Abdulkarim Chukkol, highlighted intensified operations against illegal mining, leading to increased arrests and prosecutions, while calling for broader stakeholder collaboration to address the issue.
On their part, UNODC representatives revealed ongoing projects—funded by the Canadian Government—focused on the link between illicit mining activities and terrorism financing, alongside efforts to build a multi-agency technical working group.
The Canadian delegation also outlined support in key areas such as equipment provision, software, and policing capacity to further strengthen Nigeria’s fight against financial crimes.
The engagement signals renewed commitment among the EFCC and its global partners to dismantle networks fueling terrorism and illegal economic activities in Nigeria.
Daily Times
