EU Deepens Anti-Corruption Partnership with Nigeria’s EFCC to Bolster Investment, Fight Cybercrime

European Union says stronger anti-graft institutions are key to attracting investment as it expands support for Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency through training, cybercrime response and financial crime enforcement.

ABUJA, Nigeria — The European Union has pledged to deepen its collaboration with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), reaffirming its commitment to supporting the country’s fight against corruption, cybercrime and illicit financial flows in a move aimed at strengthening investor confidence in Africa’s largest economy.

The commitment was announced on Tuesday during a visit by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where both sides outlined plans to expand cooperation in institutional capacity building, cybercrime response, anti-money laundering compliance and financial crime prosecution.

Speaking during the meeting, Mignot described the EFCC as a critical institution in Nigeria’s governance architecture, arguing that a credible anti-corruption framework remains essential to economic stability and international investment.

“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 said the partnership between the European Union and the EFCC has endured since the Commission’s establishment and has been reinforced through initiatives such as the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme. He said Brussels remained committed to helping strengthen the agency’s investigative and prosecutorial capabilities.

“We are very much committed to continuing this partnership, doing whatever we can do to strengthen the institution, improve investigative effectiveness and prosecution,” Mignot said.

As cyber-enabled financial crime continues to expand globally, the EU also announced plans to support the EFCC’s proposed Cybercrime Response Centre through specialized training for personnel. Discussions on the structure and implementation of the programme are ongoing.

Beyond cybercrime, the European Union said it would intensify support for Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework, while commending the EFCC for its recent progress against corruption and cybercrime.

Mignot noted that the engagement comes at a significant moment in EU-Nigeria relations, describing the bloc and its 14 represented member states as one of Nigeria’s largest trade, investment and development partners.

He said the EU is pursuing a broader strategy to expand private sector investment across Africa by encouraging European companies to establish partnerships with Nigerian businesses in manufacturing, agriculture and other productive sectors.

According to him, good governance and regulatory compliance remain fundamental to creating an investment climate capable of attracting long-term international capital.

European companies, he said, closely assess governance standards before making investment decisions, adding that strong institutions such as the EFCC help reassure investors that Nigeria is committed to transparency and the rule of law.

Responding, EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the Commission as Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption agency, charged with coordinating investigations and prosecutions involving economic and financial crimes.

He said the Commission has continued to strengthen its enforcement efforts, recording notable gains in combating cybercrime and terrorism financing.

“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,” Olukoyede said.

The EFCC chairman recalled that upon assuming office, he pledged to use the country’s anti-corruption framework not only to combat financial crimes but also to stimulate economic growth by improving investor confidence.

He argued that the Commission’s mandate extends beyond prosecution to creating a secure and transparent business environment where legitimate enterprises can flourish.

Olukoyede said the proposed Cybercrime Response Centre is central to that objective. Once operational, the facility will function around the clock, providing real-time intelligence gathering, rapid response to cyber incidents and swift handling of petitions and financial crime reports.

“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 working to safeguard legitimate investments and protect businesses from the risks posed by economic and financial crime.

“Be rest assured that we are here to support all the entire EU countries, particularly their investors,” Olukoyede said.

The renewed commitment signals a further strengthening of EU-Nigeria cooperation on governance and financial integrity, as both sides seek to reinforce institutional resilience while positioning Nigeria as a more attractive destination for international investment.