From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
A new €46.5 million project funded by the European Union, Germany, and France aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations and investigative journalists to combat illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Nigeria.
The SecFin Africa project, presented by Mr. Leo Atakpu, Deputy Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), at the presentation and validation of the research report on Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for addressing IFFs, seeks to curb financial crimes linked to transnational organized crime, money laundering, and terrorist financing.
Speaking during the launch of the research report on Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for addressing IFFs, Atakpu stated that the initiative is designed to enhance domestic resource mobilization, stability, and security across Sub-Saharan Africa.
This four-year project, running from August 2024 to July 2028, is implemented by Expertise France, GIZ, Civipol, FIAP, and the Swedish Tax Agency, with funding support from the EU through INTPA, Germany’s BMZ, and France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Treasury.
According to him, the project ANEEJ is handling, titled “Strengthening CSOs and Media Capacity to Contribute to the Fight Against IFF in Nigeria,” has a value of EUR 111,000 — EUR 99,900 from the donor, and EUR 11,100 as ANEEJ’s contribution.
He further disclosed that the duration is 12 months, spanning from January 13, 2026, to January 12, 2027, and that it is co-funded by the EU through the SecFin Africa Program.
Atakpu explained that the project addresses the growing threats posed by money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing to Nigeria’s financial system and global financial integrity.
He noted that Nigeria’s 2021 mutual evaluation by FATF and GIABA highlighted these risks, which kept the country on the FATF grey list until its delisting in 2025.
The overall goal of the project, he said, is to support Nigeria’s efforts to fight IFFs and to mobilize domestic resources for development.
To achieve this, the project has three specific objectives: building the capacity of civil society organizations to participate in fighting IFFs, equipping investigative journalists to conduct and publish reports on financial crimes, and raising public awareness about the impact of IFFs.
Atakpu revealed that at least 90 CSOs, including groups representing youth, women, and persons with disabilities, will benefit from training programs to strengthen their monitoring and advocacy roles.
The initiative will also improve the skills of 75 investigative journalists across print, electronic, and online media, enabling them to investigate and report financial crimes more effectively.
He stated that the project aims to improve public understanding of IFFs and to empower citizens with information needed to hold public officials accountable for managing recovered assets.
One expected outcome, Atakpu said, is increased transparency and participation in the use of recovered assets through coordinated monitoring and reporting by civil society groups.
Planned activities include research and validation workshops, capacity-building sessions for CSOs and journalists in Abuja, Lagos, and Uyo, and public awareness campaigns via radio, TV, and social media.
The project will also produce educational and communication materials to support public outreach and to enhance the visibility of the initiative.
Atakpu expressed confidence that ongoing engagement from CSOs, the media, and the public would help reduce illicit financial flows and improve accountability within Nigeria’s financial system over time.
