Lagos — 'Most money from the government or donors on development and meeting the MDGs is at risk of not getting to its target'.

This comment, by the head of UNODC in Nigeria, Dagmar Thomas has been echoed by Nuhu Ribadu in the past when he suggested that the war on corruption was the key to development in Nigeria.

UNODC is the implementing partner chosen by the FGN & European commission for an ambitious project, started in late 2005 and costing USD34m, to build up the capacity of the EFCC. So far the EFCC has recovered over 500 billion Naira already and they have another 480 cases under prosecution.

The gains are more than financial. 'There has been a change of opinion about corruption within Nigeria. For example previously it would have been unthinkable that a Police Chief like Tafa Balogun could have been arrested, handcuffed and charged.' Says Ms Thomas.

External perception is also important. From 2003 to 2005 Nigeria was always in the bottom three countries in Transparency International's Transparency Perception Index. This year Nigeria ranks 147 out of the 180 countries assessed. The Financial Action Task Force decided to remove Nigeria from its monitoring list in June 2007.

On 30 May 2007, the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) admitted Nigeria into its membership. President Bush of the USA has even been quoted as saying recently in reference to Nigerian drug trafficking, corruption and money laundering that 'there is reason for hope'.

The assistance provided by this joint project is wide-ranging. Particularly exciting is new state of the art specialised anti-money laundering software that has recently been provided to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Nigerian banks have also been helped with hardware and software so that they can be compliant with the goAML system.

The project has assisted with the nationwide communications network that links the EFCC offices, supported human resource development and capacity building and is assisting with setting up specialised training institute in Karo. They have also assisted in equipping the forensic laboratory and the media and publicity unit.

In addition ot the support to the EFCC, the project is piloting the implementation of a comprehensive framework to strengthen judicial integrity and capacity in Nigeria at federal and (selected) state levels.

Dagmar Thomas accepts that there is a lot left to do but the change in perception is important. People are starting to see that they can do it, that corruption can be tackled.

The UNODC head does not want the agency to be seen only as a supporter of enforcement agencies but as one concerned with all human security. We focus on MDG goal number 8; we are creating international partnerships for development.

Poverty underlies so many of the problems, 'at the end of the day, the victims of crime, the addicts on drugs, the sex workers are all victims of poverty,' says Thomas.