The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has called on journalists to strengthen investigative reporting and public accountability efforts in the fight against illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Nigeria.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists in Abuja on Thursday, ANEEJ Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Leo Atakpu, said the media plays a critical role in exposing corruption, promoting transparency and holding public institutions accountable.

The workshop, themed “Strengthening CSOs and Media Capacity to Contribute to the Fight Against Illicit Financial Flows in Nigeria,” is being implemented by ANEEJ with support from the European Union through the SecFin Africa Project.

Atakpu described illicit financial flows as one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s economic development, democratic governance and social justice, noting that they occur through corruption, tax evasion and avoidance, trade misinvoicing, money laundering, procurement fraud, profit shifting and illicit asset transfers.

According to him, such practices deprive the country of resources needed to improve education, healthcare, infrastructure, security and job creation.

He said journalists occupy a strategic position in the fight against financial crimes through investigative journalism, data-driven reporting, public interest storytelling and sustained scrutiny of government and private sector activities.

“The media can uncover hidden financial crimes, expose procurement abuses, follow suspicious money trails, interrogate official claims and amplify citizens’ concerns,” he said.

Atakpu noted that while Nigeria has established legal, policy and institutional frameworks to address corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes, the persistence of illicit financial flows demonstrates the need for stronger public oversight and informed citizen engagement.

He said the training was designed to equip journalists with a deeper understanding of the nature, drivers and impact of illicit financial flows, as well as practical skills in investigative reporting, data analysis, procurement monitoring, beneficial ownership reporting and the use of the Freedom of Information Act.

He observed that financial crimes often have direct consequences on citizens, weakening public institutions, increasing inequality and limiting access to basic services.

He expressed optimism that stronger collaboration among journalists, civil society organisations, government institutions and development partners would help Nigeria make significant progress in combating illicit financial flows.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the SecFin Africa Project, Prof. Abdullahi Shehu, former Director General of GIABA and SECFIN representative, said the project’s overall objective is to support African and sub-Saharan countries in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.

“The goal for SECFIN is to strengthen CSOs and the media to combat terrorism, money laundering and terrorism financing in Nigeria, and to sensitize the media as the voice of society in the fight against IFFs,” Prof. Shehu stated.

Also speaking, Ibrahim Baba Mohammed, Chief Governance Risk and Compliance Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, described the workshop as timely.

“IFFs continue to drain resources meant for development. They have serious consequences and demand a collective response. We need financial crime reporting that follows the money trail and demands accountability,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed Isah, speaking for the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML, noted that millions of dollars are lost annually to IFFs across Africa and stressed the need to end the trend.