In a major push to stop the massive hemorrhage of public resources, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has launched an intensive two-day capacity-building workshop to weaponize Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) against Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs).
The mobilization comes at a critical moment for the nation’s economy, as regulatory authorities at the event revealed that Nigeria has lost a staggering $77.7 billion (over N30 trillion) to illicit financial flows over the last decade.
The workshop, titled “Strengthening CSOs and Media Capacity to Contribute to the Fight Against Illicit Financial Flows in Nigeria,” brought together key anti-corruption watchdogs, including representatives from SecFin Africa, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML).
Speaking on behalf of ANEEJ Executive Director Rev. David Ugolor, Deputy Executive Director Mr. Leo Atakpu stated that while the broader campaign involves the press, this specific workshop deliberately targets civil society actors due to their unique grassroots leverage.
“Civil society holds the keys to public accountability, citizen mobilization, budget oversight, procurement monitoring, and tax justice advocacy,” Atakpu told delegates. He explained that the training is designed to move CSOs past theoretical awareness, equipping them with concrete, actionable tools.
Participants are being trained in high-impact oversight mechanisms, including leveraging the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, analyzing public data registries, and forming tactical coalitions to track stolen assets and disrupt procurement fraud.
Financial intelligence experts at the high-level dialogue presented grim metrics illustrating how tax evasion, criminal proceeds, and public corruption systematically starve the nation of developmental capital.
Mr. Harry Erin, Director of EFCC’s SCUML (represented by Mr. Pascal Samu), explained that these billions, which should have funded hospitals, schools, and infrastructure, are routinely stolen and diverted abroad. To fight back, Erin disclosed that SCUML is strictly enforcing a Beneficial Ownership Transparency regime across all business processes to unmask the real individuals hiding behind anonymous corporate covers.
The regulatory net is also tightening around non-traditional financial pathways. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, Director/CEO of the NFIU (represented by Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed), warned that the movement of dirty money has evolved.
“Nigeria has a role to play to stop the money from going out so that it can be used to develop the country,” Bakari stated, specifically noting that illicit funds are increasingly moving through Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) rather than just commercial banks. She reaffirmed the NFIU’s commitment to building a financial system that is entirely resilient and resistant to abuse by criminal actors.
Backing the initiative, Prof. Abdullahi Shehu, representing SecFin Africa, lauded ANEEJ for producing a definitive baseline study on Nigerian IFFs. He challenged civil society actors to stop lamenting bad governance and start actively policing it.
“Monitor government activities, write evidence-based articles, and aggressively pursue accountability,” Prof. Shehu charged, urging participants to also actively engage in the electoral process to choose the right leaders.
The Abuja workshop concludes with participants developing localized, data-driven action plans for advocacy and coalition building,transforming civil society from passive observers into frontline defenders of Nigeria’s commonwealth.
