ICPC Commences Three-Day Workshop, Says Illicit Financial Flows Rob Nigeria of Vital Resources

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, on Tuesday flagged off a combined training workshop on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and Money Laundering, alongside an Anti-Corruption Leadership Series, at the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
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The flag-off ceremony marked the commencement of an intensive capacity-building programme designed for public officers, civil servants and stakeholders across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), aimed at bolstering the nation’s fight against corruption, illicit financial flows and money laundering.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Aliyu declared that illicit financial flows continue to deprive Nigeria of the resources needed to fund development, warning that the scourge undermines economic growth, weakens governance and impoverishes ordinary citizens.

He noted that the benefits of IFFs accrue only to a privileged few, while the nation bears the high cost of lost revenue and diminished public services.

According to him, the workshop was convened to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to detect, deter and report suspicious financial activities, thereby ensuring that the nation’s wealth is retained and deployed for the benefit of all.

The ICPC Chairman affirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to repositioning ACAN as a world-class learning institute capable of competing favourably with other anti-corruption institutions across the globe.

He stated that the Academy would be transformed into a centre of excellence for anti-corruption training, research and development, equipped to produce well-trained professionals with the requisite skills to confront emerging corruption challenges in Nigeria and beyond.

Dr. Aliyu stressed that the fight against corruption must not rest on enforcement alone, but must be complemented by routine training and capacity building of public and civil servants on best practices for combating the menace.

“Enforcement is only one leg of the fight against corruption. Sustainable anti-corruption requires prevention through knowledge, integrity and leadership. That is why we are investing in the training of public servants and other stakeholders, so they can understand the nature of corruption, illicit financial flows and money laundering, and apply global best practices in their service delivery,” he said.

He therefore urged participants to take the workshop seriously, apply the knowledge gained, and become ambassadors of transparency, accountability and integrity in their respective organisations, so that the benefits of good governance may be felt across the country.

In addition to flagging off the workshop, the Chairman carried out an on-site assessment of the Academy’s facilities to identify areas requiring urgent upgrade and improvement, in line with the Commission’s vision of repositioning ACAN as a world-class institution.

ICPC

He assured that the Commission would provide the necessary support, infrastructure, and partnerships to ensure the Academy meets international standards in anti-corruption training and education.

J. Okor Odey
Head, Media and Public Communications, ICPC
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Nigeria Customs Marks Breast Cancer Awareness Programme Month in Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on 6 October 2026 marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a sensitisation programme at its Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, to promote awareness, early detection, and prevention of breast cancer among officers and stakeholders.
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The programme, themed “Inspect, Detect, Protect,” brought together officers, medical professionals and partners to strengthen the fight against the disease.

The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said cancer should not be regarded as a stigma or the end of life. She urged officers to remain vigilant about their health, stressing that education and sensitisation were critical to early detection and effective management of the disease.

“Cancer isn’t a stigma. It is a time to give attention to those affected and give them hope again. Together, we can build a healthier society, a healthier Service, and healthier communities,” Adebakin said.

The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, who served as Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, urged officers, particularly women, to prioritise their health through regular self-examination and timely medical attention. She noted that women often focused on the wellbeing of their families while neglecting their own health, stressing the importance of early detection.

“Fellow officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself,” she said, while also reminding male officers that breast cancer could affect men and urging them to support women in their families and communities.

The Project Manager of the BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, said the initiative had championed breast cancer awareness within the NCS for three years, stressing the need for sustained sensitisation and regular screening. She noted that early detection remained critical in addressing the disease.

Customs

A major highlight of the programme was a ₦50 million pledge by the Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, towards supporting the fight against breast cancer. Umar-Ajijola urged participants to apply the same diligence used in Customs operations to their personal health, saying, “When you are not sure, always ask and always check. No one has to fight this alone.”

The programme also featured a health talk, medical session, survivor testimony and a question-and-answer segment, before culminating in free breast cancer screening for officers and participants, translating the awareness campaign into practical action.
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Oil spill: Governor Oborevwori Orders Clean-up, Medical Help for Delta Communities

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has ordered immediate medical intervention and urgent measures to tackle the devastating impact of the oil spill along the Trans-Forcados pipeline, saying the state government would not allow affected communities to suffer unnecessarily.
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Oborevwori, who spoke during an inspection visit to Odidi community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, on Tuesday, directed the State Commissioner for Health to “immediately deploy medical teams to affected communities to assess residents and determine the health implications of the pollution.”

The governor was accompanied by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor; Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale; Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Asaba, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Buhari; Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, Warri, Commodore Shehu Tasiu; Commander, 3144 Operating Base, Nigerian Air Force, Warri, Group Capt. Charles Abara; State Director of the Department of State Services, Dr Peter Afunanya; and other senior government officials.

Saying the situation had become too serious to be treated casually, the governor declared, “We have to take this matter seriously. Once you see what is happening, you realise that it is a very big issue. We don’t want our people dying at this time. We cannot afford to lose our focus or waste time. We have to act quickly and decisively.”

Oborevwori said the intervention would go beyond the distribution of relief materials, stressing that residents must be medically examined because of the possible health consequences of prolonged exposure to pollution.

He also directed Heritage Energy to deploy a medical team and provide relief materials, saying the medical teams would visit the affected communities, assess the environmental and health impact and determine appropriate intervention. He added that the exercise would cover other areas affected by the incident.

The governor also demanded genuine dialogue between the oil operator and host communities, saying meaningful engagement was necessary to resolve the crisis and prevent further tension.

He assured the communities that his administration would continue to engage the relevant stakeholders until their concerns were addressed, while commending the security agencies for maintaining peace during the intervention.

Addressing the affected residents, Oborevwori noted with concern that “while an initial assessment showed that about 86 communities were affected, the number had now risen to 216.”

He said the operating company had assured the government that the technical process would be concluded and that the clean-up would be completed before the end of October, after which the affected communities would be engaged on compensation and other measures.

The governor warned that commitments made by the company must be honoured, saying the government would take necessary steps to ensure compliance.

He, however, appealed to the communities to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that the government would pursue the matter through dialogue and due process.

Oborevwori lamented that the pollution had severely affected fishing, the major source of livelihood for many residents, resulting in scarcity and increased prices of fish.

He stressed that the crisis was not merely about compensation, but about restoring the environment, protecting human lives and safeguarding the livelihoods of the affected people.

Speaking further, the governor approved the construction of a landing jetty for Odidi community and directed the Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area to build a modern health centre for the community.

Oborevwori also directed the Commissioners for Oil and Gas, Chief Peter Uviejitobor, and Environment, Moses Ogodo, to monitor the timeline for the implementation of his directives to the oil company and report back to him.

Meanwhile, the General Manager, Operations Integrity, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, Nelson Wilbert, assured that the company was committed to working with the state government, host communities, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders to resolve the crisis.

Wilbert said the immediate priority was to complete the ongoing technical operations, including installation, stopping the spill and pressure testing, required to safely restore normal operations.

Delta Governor Oborevwori

He added that the company would work with regulatory authorities and affected communities to assess the environmental damage, clean up impacted areas and provide appropriate compensation.

The President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr Doubra Okotete, called for urgent action to halt the pollution, alleging that crude was still being pumped through leaking pipelines.

Okotete urged the authorities and oil operators to undertake comprehensive remediation and compensate affected residents, while calling for increased medical support, particularly for residents suffering from respiratory problems.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Odidi Community, Truston Gbenekama, thanked the governor for the visit and appealed for a landing jetty, health centre, potable water and environmental reclamation of the community.
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