The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills Jr., has outlined four major areas of focus in the collaboration between the U.S. government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During a familiarization visit to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in Abuja, Mills emphasized counter-corruption, financial terrorism, counter-terrorism, and money laundering as key priorities for continued partnership between both nations.
Reaffirming the long-standing relationship between the U.S. government and the EFCC, the ambassador pledged increased cooperation, particularly in intelligence and information sharing, to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against financial crimes.
“The U.S. government was strongly supportive of the creation of the EFCC when it was established, and our relationship has continued since then,” Mills stated. “We are keen on understanding the chairman’s priorities and the key trends in financial crimes that the EFCC is addressing. We want to explore how we can assist through information sharing, expertise, and closer cooperation in specific cases.”
The ambassador highlighted that financial crimes have far-reaching consequences on both Nigeria and the U.S., stressing the importance of strengthening measures to ensure economic security and prosperity.
“This office is at the epicenter of efforts to counter corruption, financial terrorism, counter-terrorism, and money laundering, which are high-priority issues for the U.S. government,” he added.
Responding to the delegation, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to tackling financial and economic crimes through prevention, investigation, and prosecution.
“Our mandate is not only to fight financial crimes but also to prevent them. We recover assets in the course of our work, which are managed under the directive of the Federal Executive Council, led by the President,” Olukoyede said.
Acknowledging the long-standing collaboration between Nigeria and the U.S., he expressed optimism about strengthening ties for better results in the fight against corruption and illicit financial flows.
The visit marks another step in the ongoing cooperation between Nigeria and the U.S. in curbing financial crimes and fostering a more secure economic environment.
