The United States says it will expand technological collaboration with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, to combat cybercrime.
Richard M. Mills Jr, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, announced this during a meeting with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday. Mills met with Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Chairman, in Abuja to discuss strengthening digital tools and intelligence-sharing systems critical to tackling financial crimes.
“I’m here today to learn a little bit about what the Chairman’s priorities are for the EFCC moving forward; what you see as the key trends in financial crimes that you’re addressing and how the U.S. government and U.S. Mission can assist you, either with information sharing or sharing of expertise, closer cooperation in specific cases.”
– Richard M. Mills Jr, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria.
He notes that closer cooperation would help “create a secure, prosperous Nigeria and build our economies, both the U.S. and the Nigerians.”
The EFCC, Nigeria’s primary anti-graft agency, relies heavily on digital intelligence to track illicit financial flows. The EFCC Chairman seeks the U.S. support to upgrade technology and speed up responses to data requests.
Olukoyede wants U.S. agencies to “fast-track” their response to some of EFCC’s requests, citing delays in cross-border data sharing.
Enhanced support, says Olukoyede, is required for technology, intelligence sharing, and human capital development. He emphasises the intelligence-driven nature of the agency’s work and highlights the critical role of collaboration and capacity building.
“The support is needed especially in the areas of technology, intelligence gathering and sharing and human capital development. We recognise the fact that most of the work we do is intelligence-driven. And when we talk of intelligence, we are talking of technology. So we need your support in that area. And also need it in capacity building, collaboration, information and intelligence sharing which is very important.”
– Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Chairman
A key focus of the talks was Nigeria’s new Visa Application and Immigration Fraud Section, launched in 2024 to tackle cyber-enabled visa scams. The unit operates 24/7 across EFCC zonal offices, targeting criminal networks exploiting foreign embassy systems.
Nigeria has faced rising cybercrime rates, ranking 5th globally in the world’s cybercrime index. The U.S. has previously provided cybersecurity training to EFCC officials through programs like the Department of Justice’s International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Initiative.
Olukoyede linked the anti-corruption fight to Nigeria’s tech economy: “The Nigeria government is willing to collaborate more with the government of the United States to work more for the mutual interests of both countries.”
Article edited by Yusuf Balogun.
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