The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has assured local government council chairmen and chairmen of traditional rulers’ councils across the country that anti-corruption enforcement would penetrate the grassroots in order to bring development closer to the people.

He stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the maiden Annual National Conference of Local Government Council Chairmen and Traditional Rulers Councils.

According to him, the Commission’s commitment to accountability does not stop at the federal level, pledging closer attention to transparency at the sub-national tier as well. He noted that as more resources flow to local governments, the real measure of success will be whether that funding translates into tangible improvements in the everyday lives of grassroots communities. He pointed out that the EFCC’s work supports every pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and pledged that accountability efforts would extend to the sub-national level.

“The EFCC is equally committed to transparency and accountability at the sub-national level and would want to see the improved resources flow to the third tier of government translate into improvement in the quality of lives of the grassroots population,” he said.

Represented by the Director, Public Affairs Department, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC Chairman highlighted the conversion of recovered proceeds of crime into public investment, noting that the Federal Government had directed ₦50 billion each from recovered funds to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), with further funding since approved. He also cited the transformation of the forfeited former NOK University in Kaduna State into the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, which he said had enrolled 1,909 students by December 2025.

On national security, Olukoyede said economic crime and security threats could no longer be treated as separate concerns, pointing to the financing of terrorist organisations, illegal mining, cross-border cybercrime and money laundering as serious security issues. He disclosed that the Commission’s specialised enforcement portfolio had recorded 920 cases and 212 convictions, with further investigations and prosecutions ongoing across money laundering, terrorist financing, illegal mining and virtual-assets fraud.

He added that almost 60 per cent of the Commission’s processes and operations had been digitalised, alongside continued investment in the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre and investigative technology, to protect Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy from fraud and abuse.

“We will investigate professionally, prosecute on the strength of evidence and respect the constitutional role of the courts in determining guilt or innocence. No title should place anyone outside the reach of the law, but neither should the fight against corruption be separated from due process.”

Olukoyede recalled that between October 2023 and the period covered by the Commission’s recent stewardship account, the EFCC recorded recoveries exceeding ₦1.233 trillion, alongside about $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million in other currencies. He said roughly two-thirds of the naira recovered was returned to ministries, departments and agencies, state revenue services, companies and individuals, with federal and state tax recoveries alone totalling about ₦288.1 billion.

He stressed that recovery should not end with seizure, noting that approximately ₦661.32 billion and $492.37 million had been released to beneficiaries during the period under review, including individuals, companies, government institutions and revenue authorities. “Recovery reaches its highest value when recovered assets are returned to citizens or converted into productive national use,” he said.

Turning to the council chairmen, Olukoyede said the Commission was strengthening its own internal standards, including new arrest and bail guidelines and conflict-of-interest safeguards, so that an institution demanding accountability from others also holds itself to the same standard. He urged that accountability “become a living principle rather than a slogan” across all tiers of government, particularly as more resources flow to local councils.

Olukoyede linked Nigeria’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025 to sustained inter-agency reforms in which the EFCC played a central role, describing the anti-corruption fight as an instrument for economic growth, national reputation and investor confidence. He said the delisting mattered because international investors weigh not only the size of an economy but the strength of its institutions and the integrity of its financial system.

This was as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the vision and focus of his administration was about shortening the distance between government and the governed, widening access to services and creating more centres of local development.

Building on that experience, President Tinubu, who was represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said his administration, “since 2023, has pursued national development with a strengthened belief that Nigeria cannot develop from the centre alone. Development must take root from the bottom up.”

The President also told the LGA chairmen that “Nigerians in all parts of the country must witness and experience better primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, safe water, stronger food systems, support for small businesses and opportunities for women and young people.”