RismadarVoice Reporters, April 25, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is intensifying collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Government of Canada to strengthen efforts against terrorism financing and illegal mining in Nigeria.
The EFCC Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Friday, April 24, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja by a joint delegation from the UNODC and Canada.
The visiting team included the Canadian Senior Project Manager, Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Crimes Capacity Building Programmes Division, Wilma Endamne, and UNODC Counter-Terrorism Unit Project Coordinator, Tom Parker.
Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Commander of the EFCC, CE Michael Nzekwe, Olukoyede said the commission has enjoyed longstanding support from both institutions, describing the partnership as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s anti-financial crime architecture.
He noted that the EFCC has recorded significant progress in the prosecution of cases related to terrorism financing and illegal mining across its zonal commands, stressing that the agency remains committed to sustaining enforcement efforts in both areas.
Olukoyede said criminal networks are increasingly leveraging advanced technology, making it necessary for law enforcement agencies to continuously upgrade their operational and investigative capacities.
He added that the commission is expanding internal training programmes focused on terrorism financing, illegal mining, and money laundering, while remaining open to further technical assistance from international partners.
“The Commission is open to collaboration. We are committed to ensuring that our partnership with UNODC gets stronger. Whatever it would take to dismantle every form and structure of terrorism financing, the Commission is committed to it,” he said.
Also speaking, the EFCC Director of Investigation, Commander CE Abdulkarim Chukkol, said the agency has recently intensified operations against illegal mining, resulting in increased arrests and prosecutions.
He noted that capacity-building initiatives supported by international partners have strengthened the commission’s response, adding that coordinated efforts are essential in addressing the growing threat.
“We want everybody to be on board so that we can agree that we have a problem, and design a framework on how to overcome it,” Chukkol said.
In his remarks, UNODC Project Coordinator Tom Parker said the delegation’s visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the EFCC on counter-terrorism financing and illegal mining, noting that ongoing engagements with stakeholders have led to the establishment of a technical working group to enhance coordinated responses.
The partnership is expected to deepen intelligence sharing, training, and operational support as Nigeria continues efforts to combat financial crimes linked to insecurity and illicit resource exploitation.
