From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has organized a training for Civil Society Organizations ((CSOs) and media practitioners to enable them boost fight against Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop titled ‘Strengthening CSOs and Media Capacity to Contribute to the Fight against Illicit Financial Flows in Nigeria,’ the Deputy Executive Director of ANEEJ, Leo Atakpu, emphasized that the role of CSOs is crucial for promoting transparency, mobilizing citizens, monitoring budgets, tracking procurement, advocating for tax justice, and leading anti-corruption efforts.
Representing the Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor, along with the Board, Management, and Staff of ANEEJ, Atakpu explained that the workshop, scheduled from June 23 to 24, 2026, aims to improve understanding of the nature, causes, trends, and impacts of IFFs on Nigeria’s development.
He expressed hope that Nigeria can make progress in the fight against IFFs through strong collaboration among government agencies, CSOs, media, development partners, and citizens, especially when prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians and future generations.
While acknowledging the efforts of some institutions fighting IFFs, Atakpu noted that the continued existence of this problem underscores the need for stronger laws, more effective institutions, credible data, robust coalitions, and sustained public pressure to address implementation gaps and hold actors accountable.
“This is why this workshop is very timely,” he said. “It will improve understanding of the legal, policy, and institutional frameworks for tackling corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, procurement fraud, and asset recovery.”
He also expressed confidence that the training will equip CSOs with practical tools for evidence-based advocacy, monitoring public procurement, utilizing the Freedom of Information Act, accessing public data, building coalitions, and engaging strategically with relevant agencies.
Atakpu highlighted that Illicit Financial Flows are among the biggest threats to Nigeria’s development, governance, and social justice, noting that these flows happen through corruption, tax evasion and avoidance, trade misinvoicing, money laundering, procurement fraud, profit shifting, and other illegal financial practices.
According to him, these actions drain the country of vital public resources needed for education, healthcare, infrastructure, social protection, job creation, and poverty reduction.
He stressed that the role of CSOs is to fill the gap by scrutinizing money flows, monitoring budgets and procurement, demanding transparency of beneficial ownership, working constructively with anti-corruption and financial intelligence agencies, responsibly using data, educating the public, and forming coalitions.
Atakpu urged participants to turn the knowledge gained into action. “The true measure of this engagement’s success will be what we do after we leave this room: the advocacy efforts we undertake, the coalitions we build, the data we leverage, the institutions we interact with, and the citizens we mobilize,” he added.
ANEEJ reaffirmed its commitment to defending public resources and supporting civil society actors dedicated to transparency, accountability, and justice in Nigeria’s financial and governance systems.
The event was also graced by the State APC leader, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Sen. MT Munguno,Deputy Governor Idris Muhammed Gobir, Minister for State, Works, Barrister Bello Goronyo, Speaker Sokoto State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Tukur Bala Bodinga and the Deputy Speaker, Kabir Ibrahim Kware.
Others were the members of the National and State Assemblies, Secretary to the State Government Muhammad Bello Sifawa,Chief of Staff Government House Sokoto, Aminu Haliru Dikko mni, Head of Service Abdulkadir Ahmed, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and other top government functionaries.
