Lagos, Nigeria — November 4, 2025
The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development joined its implementing partner, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), for the Mid-Term Review Meeting of the FCDO-funded project titled “Tackling Illicit Financial Flows through Asset Recovery, Management, and Strengthening AML/CFT/PF Compliance in Nigeria.” The two-day meeting, held in Ikeja, Lagos, brought together key stakeholders to assess progress made under the project and outline strategies for the next phase of implementation.
As a key partner in the project, the African Center presented updates on its ongoing interventions, including the Technical Needs Assessment (TNA) conducted across eight Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA)-designated agencies. The TNA identified institutional and policy gaps in asset recovery and financial crime response mechanisms. Findings from the exercise will inform the design and delivery of targeted capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening asset tracing, management, recovery, and inter-agency coordination, in line with the FATF Action Plan.
The Center also shared progress on the design and upcoming rollout of a Train-the-Trainers (ToT) workshop for 18 POCA agencies, which seeks to deepen technical expertise and operational capacity in asset recovery and AML/CFT compliance. In collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBA-AMLC), the Center has supported a series of capacity-building workshops across 33 NBA branches nationwide, enhancing legal practitioners’ understanding of AML/CFT obligations and promoting compliance within the legal sector.
Additionally, the Center has engaged over 9,000 Nigerian Law School students and participants through sensitization programmes and online webinars designed to instill a culture of compliance among future lawyers. These initiatives are complemented by targeted media campaigns and public awareness activities, including radio features and stakeholder communications, promoting the NBA–AMLC Portal and improving public understanding of the legal profession’s role in combating illicit finance.
All these interventions form part of the Center’s sustained advocacy, supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented in partnership with ANEEJ and the NBA-AMLC. Collectively, these efforts have contributed to the recent delisting of Nigeria from the FATF Grey List—a milestone reflecting the country’s strengthened compliance framework and institutional resilience in addressing illicit financial flows.
Speaking at the review, the Deputy Project Director of the African Center, Obialunanma Nnaobi-Ayodele, reaffirmed the Center’s commitment to sustaining momentum toward effective asset recovery, risk-based supervision, and compliance with international financial integrity standards. She emphasized that the Mid-Term Review provided an important opportunity to reflect on achievements to date, identify areas requiring additional focus, and realign strategies for the final phase of implementation.
The African Center team at the meeting also included Program Officer, Emmanuela Okonkwo-Abutu, and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Prince Ighodalo Osezuebor.
