ICPC Chairman Says Illicit Financial Flows Depriving Nigeria of Funds for Development

ICPC Chairman Says Illicit Financial Flows Depriving Nigeria of Funds for Development

By Our Reporter

Abuja (Core Reporters) – Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) has warned that illicit financial flows (IFFs) continue to deprive Nigeria of resources needed to fund development.

Aliyu said IFFs undermine economic growth, weaken governance and impoverish ordinary Nigerians, stressing that the benefits of illicit financial activities accrue to a privileged few while the country bears the burden of lost revenue and diminished public services.

The ICPC chairman spoke on Tuesday at the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), Keffi, Nasarawa State, where he flagged off a combined training workshop on Illicit Financial Flows and Money Laundering alongside an Anti-Corruption Leadership Series.

The intensive capacity-building programme is designed for public officers, civil servants and stakeholders across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), with the aim of strengthening their capacity to detect, deter and report suspicious financial activities.

Aliyu said the workshop would equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to combat corruption, money laundering and illicit financial flows and ensure that Nigeria’s resources are retained and deployed for the benefit of citizens.

He stressed that the fight against corruption must go beyond enforcement to include continuous training and capacity building for public and civil servants on international best practices.

“Enforcement is only one leg of the fight against corruption. Sustainable anti-corruption requires prevention through knowledge, integrity and leadership,” he said.

The ICPC chairman said the Commission was committed to repositioning ACAN as a world-class institution capable of competing with leading anti-corruption institutions globally.

He said the Academy would be transformed into a centre of excellence for anti-corruption training, research and development, capable of producing professionals equipped to confront emerging corruption challenges in Nigeria and beyond.

Aliyu urged participants to take the training seriously and apply the knowledge acquired in their respective organisations, while becoming ambassadors of transparency, accountability and integrity.

As part of the visit, the ICPC chairman conducted an on-site assessment of ACAN’s facilities to identify areas requiring urgent upgrade and improvement.

He assured that the Commission would provide the necessary support, infrastructure and partnerships to bring the Academy up to international standards in anti-corruption training and education.