The European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pledging continued support in the fight against corruption, cybercrime, money laundering and other financial crimes.
The commitment was made on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, and his delegation to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Mignot described the EFCC as a critical institution for Nigeria’s economic growth and investment climate, noting that its work is essential to building investor confidence.
“The role of the EFCC is so important for us, both for the stability and prosperity of Nigeria and for our partnership, to be able to tell our potential investors: you can safely come to Nigeria.
There is a compliant business environment because you have strong institutions like the EFCC to make sure that this is the place,” he said.
The ambassador commended the long-standing relationship between the EU and the anti-graft agency, noting that the partnership has remained active since the Commission’s establishment, particularly through the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme.
He pledged the EU’s continued support in strengthening the EFCC’s institutional capacity, improving investigations and enhancing prosecution of financial crimes.
“We are very much committed to continuing this partnership, doing whatever we can do to strengthen the institution, improve investigative effectiveness and prosecution,” he said.
Mignot disclosed that the European Union is also intensifying support for Nigeria’s response to cybercrime, describing it as one of the most pressing challenges facing law enforcement agencies.
He revealed that plans are underway to train EFCC personnel on the operations of the proposed Cybercrime Response Centre, while discussions on the implementation framework are ongoing.
The EU envoy also highlighted ongoing assistance in strengthening Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework, while applauding the Commission’s efforts in combating corruption and financial crimes.
According to him, the visit comes at a significant period in EU-Nigeria relations, with the European Union and its 14 member states remaining major trade, investment and development partners of Nigeria.
He said the bloc is committed to attracting more European private-sector investment into Nigeria by encouraging partnerships with local businesses across manufacturing, agriculture and other strategic sectors.
“Governance issues remain a core priority for us, also as an enabler for the development of investment and for the organisation of EU companies,” he said.
Mignot added that European investors closely monitor governance and regulatory standards before making investment decisions, stressing that strong institutions like the EFCC help create the confidence needed for businesses to thrive.
Responding, EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to tackling economic and financial crimes while promoting a transparent and investment-friendly environment.
He described the EFCC as Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption agency, responsible for coordinating the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes nationwide.
Olukoyede said the Commission had recorded notable progress in combating cybercrime and terrorism financing, citing Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
“Over the years, we have strived to ensure that the country is rid of economic and financial crimes.
Recently, we recorded a modest achievement in the area of the fight against cybercrime and terrorism financing. We were taken off the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and we are looking forward to doing more,” he said.
The EFCC chairman recalled that upon assuming office, he pledged to leverage the anti-corruption campaign to strengthen Nigeria’s economy and attract more investments.
He stressed that the Commission’s mandate extends beyond investigating financial crimes to creating a secure environment where businesses can operate with confidence.
Olukoyede said the proposed Cybercrime Response Centre is designed to bolster the country’s digital security infrastructure by providing round-the-clock monitoring and rapid response capabilities.
“The essence of the centre is to handle real-time reports, gather intelligence, react to petitions, information and all of that,” he said.
He assured the European Union and its member states that the EFCC would continue to support legitimate businesses and safeguard investments against the threats posed by economic and financial crimes.
“Be rest assured that we are here to support all the entire EU countries, particularly their investors,” he said.
