The Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) held its 7th Annual General Assembly at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 14, 2025. The meeting focused on enhancing regional collaboration to combat corruption, with a particular emphasis on asset recovery and information exchange.
During the event, participants adopted new ECOWAS Guidelines designed to improve asset tracing, recovery and management, as well as facilitate cross-border investigations. These measures are intended to strengthen legal frameworks across West African states and address illicit financial flows within the region.
In her opening remarks delivered on behalf of H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Vice-President H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja highlighted the impact of corruption on development projects and public trust: “The consequences of corruption are serious. Every Naira, Cedi, Dalasi, or CFA lost to corruption is a school not built, a hospital not equipped, a road never constructed or paved,” she stated. She emphasized that harmonized legal and regulatory systems among member states are essential for an effective fight against corruption and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to implementing the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on this issue.
The Assembly also marked ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary and included a review of NACIWA’s Executive Committee over its three-year tenure. Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and President of NACIWA, outlined several milestones such as establishing a permanent Secretariat in Abuja, obtaining Observer Status in the GlobE Network, and designating the EFCC Academy as a regional Centre of Excellence.
“At this critical juncture, when our subregion faces questions about unity and democratic resilience, NACIWA’s role assumes unprecedented importance,” Mr. Olukoyede said. “We must be perceived, and must act, as a stabilizing moral force, one that champions transparency, accountability, and the foundational values that define the ECOWAS vision.”
Mr. Aba Kimelabalou, Secretary General of NACIWA, thanked member states along with Nigerian authorities and development partners for their support during his vote of thanks. He specifically recognized the consistent backing from the ECOWAS Commission under Dr. Touray’s leadership as crucial for strengthening institutions dedicated to fighting corruption.
The Assembly concluded with closed-door discussions among heads of national anti-corruption bodies. A communiqué summarizing new resolutions and results from Executive Committee elections is expected to be released following these deliberations.