By Yemi Akinsuyi
The President, Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, and Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has stated that the challenge posed by corruption in West African member states and in the region was surmountable.
He stated this on Thursday, in an insightful opening address as NACIWA President as he led a regional dialogue on combating corruption and addressing instability across West Africa and the Sahel regions.
“While the challenges we face are formidable, they are not insurmountable. It is essential that we maintain our focus on pragmatic, non-political approaches that emphasize technical solutions and shared best practices over partisan differences,” he said.
The high-level roundtable, supported by the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), focused on the theme “Exchanging Views on the Nexus between Corruption, Sociopolitical Crises, and Instability in West Africa and the Sahel: Lessons Learnt and Way Forward.”
As NACIWA President, the EFCC’s boss underscored Nigeria’s leadership role in the regional fight against corruption, reaffirming the Commission’s dedication to strengthening cross-border collaboration and information sharing towards effective combat of financial crimes.
He reiterated EFCC’s unflinching commitment to Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in addressing the transnational nature of corruption.
He also stressed the Commission’s commitment to international best practices and highlighted its ongoing efforts to engage with regional and international partners in dismantling corruption networks that threaten peace, security, and development across West Africa.
The dialogue centered on analyzing recent corruption trends brought out in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index with particular reference to West Africa and Sahel region and evaluated how corruption undermined governance structures and contributed to instability in the West African region.
Participants were tasked to evolve actionable recommendations for promoting transparency and accountability within the region.
