Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), government ministries, the media, and development partners have pledged stronger collaboration to ensure transparency and accountability in the restitution and monitoring of looted assets in Nigeria.
This resolution was contained in the Yenagoa Declaration, issued at the conclusion of a two-day workshop on Strengthening CSO Engagement in Asset Restitution and Monitoring, held September 25–26, 2025, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The meeting was convened by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom.
Participants expressed deep concern over the billions of dollars lost annually by Nigeria to illicit financial flows (IFFs), money laundering, and related financial crimes—funds that could have provided critical investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation. They acknowledged international anti-corruption frameworks such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the London Anti-Corruption Summit, and the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) principles as benchmarks guiding Nigeria’s commitment to transparent management of returned assets.
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The Declaration outlined five shared commitments: enhancing CSO capacity to meet compliance standards; fostering government-CSO collaboration to build public trust; promoting inclusive oversight that involves grassroots communities; ensuring transparent procurement and use of recovered assets; and sustaining public awareness through media and civil society engagement.
A focal point of discussion was the $954,807.40 Alamieyeseigha asset repatriated from the United States and earmarked for primary healthcare projects in Bayelsa State. Participants urged the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to guarantee fairness, transparency, and accountability in the ongoing procurement process linked to the asset, stressing that its management should set a model for future restitutions.
Notable CSOs represented included the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF) and the Women Organized for Mentorship and Advocacy Network (WOMAN), alongside other grassroots groups, who underscored the importance of community voices in monitoring and ensuring equitable use of recovered funds.
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Issuing the Declaration on behalf of participants, Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, joined by community leaders and media representatives, emphasized that the Bayelsa experience could become a model for community-driven restitution efforts across Nigeria and Africa.
The participants reaffirmed their resolve to work collectively toward a Nigeria “where crime does not pay, and recovered assets are used to rebuild lives and communities
