Why I Won’t Interfere In EFCC, ICPC Operations, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, said since assuming office he has made deliberate efforts to tackle corruption by funding the anti-graft agencies like EFCC and ICPC and not interfering in their activities.

Tinubu described corruption as one of the most significant obstacles to the country’s progress, saying all hands must be on deck to confront it.

Represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the President spoke in Abuja at the 6th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-corruption Institutions in West Africa.

He said, “Corruption remains one of the most significant obstacles to the progress and prosperity of our nations.

“It undermines the very fabric of our societies, erodes public trust, and impedes equitable distribution of resources. As leaders, we are all responsible for confronting this challenge head-on with unwavering resolve and concerted actions. We have worked hard over the past year to strengthen all the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria by not interfering in their activities and ensuring that they are equitably funded.”

Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Authority of the Economic Community of West African States, called on ECOWAS countries to harmonise their legal frameworks and strengthen the independence and capacity of anti-corruption institutions, among others.

Tinubu said, “Let us move beyond rhetoric and focus on concrete actions that will harmonise our legal frameworks to close loopholes exploited by corrupt individuals. Enhance cross-border cooperation in investigations and asset recovery. Invest in innovative technologies to detect and prevent corrupt practices.

“Promote transparency in public procurement and resource management. Engage civil society and the media as partners in our anti-corruption efforts. And sixth, strengthen the independence and capacity of our national anti-corruption institutions.”

In his presentation, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affair, Yusuf Tuggar, said African countries lose an estimated $8.6bn yearly to illicit financial flows.

Stating the disadvantage of illicit financial flows, the minister noted that it weakens economies, deprives governments of essential revenue, and causes poverty.

Tuggar said, “On a continental level, the menace of corruption is intimately tied to illicit financial flows, which siphon billions of dollars from Africa every year. The continent loses an estimated $8.6bn annually to illicit financial flows, equivalent to around three per cent of Africa’s GDP.

“These funds, often hidden in tax havens and opaque financial systems, represent stolen resources that could have been used to build schools, hospitals, roads, and other critical infrastructure. Illicit financial flows weaken our economies, deprive governments of essential revenue, and deepen the cycle of poverty and suffering. The link between illicit funds and insecurity is clear.”

Tuggar said regional cooperation alone was not enough to curb illicit financial flows on the continent.

He stressed that the international community must support Africa’s efforts by ensuring transparency in local financial systems and ending the provision of safe havens for illicit funds.

Tuggar said, “The global nature of financial systems means that the fight against corruption and illicit financial flows must also be pursued at the global level.

“The United Nations Resolution on Tax Cooperation, championed by Nigeria on behalf of the African group, is a landmark initiative calling on countries to work together to improve international tax cooperation, greater transparency, and the elimination of safe havens that allow for the squirrelling away of ill-gotten gains