The Recovered N32.7bn Loot Can Assist Poor Nigerians – Femi Falana

Femi Falana

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to transfer the sum of N32.7 billion and $445,000, recovered from officials of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, to the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) for proper use.

He recently revealed that after recovering the exact sum of N32.7 billion and an additional $445,000 from allegedly corrupt officials within the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, the funds have still not been transferred to the NSIPA.

Speaking via a public statement issued on August 24, 2025, under the banner of the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), which he chairs, Falana said that despite the EFCC’s clear policy of ensuring recovered funds are returned for their intended purposes, nothing has been done yet.

According to him, the federal, state, and local governments should work towards scaling up their contributions to the NSIP, especially amid the significant rise in government revenues.

He stated that the increased revenues have to quickly reflect in improved social investment, instead of mere tokenism.

“We commend the EFCC and urge it to intensify efforts to recover the outstanding N20 billion still unaccounted for. But more importantly, the recovered N32.7 billion and $445,000 should be transferred to the National Social Investment Programme Agency to help alleviate the hardship faced by over 133 million multi-dimensionally poor Nigerians.

Governments must go beyond lip service and invest meaningfully in social protection programmes. They must put their money where their mouth is,” he said.

Falana’s statement comes after loud calls for transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s social welfare schemes.