In a significant step towards advancing asset recovery across Africa, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) launched six national assessments on the implementation of the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR) today. The launch, which took place in Abuja, marks a milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to tackle illicit financial flows and recover stolen assets.
CAPAR, adopted by the African Union (AU) in February 2020, serves as a strategic framework for recovering and managing stolen African assets that have been illicitly transferred abroad. The framework consists of four key pillars: Detection and Identification of Assets, Recovery and Return of Assets, Management of Recovered Assets, and Cooperation and Partnerships. It aims to enhance national and continental-level cooperation to strengthen asset recovery processes, uphold African sovereignty, and promote transparency.
CISLAC, a prominent anti-corruption advocate, alongside partners like Transparency International, has been pivotal in driving the conversation around asset recovery in Africa. The national assessments, conducted between 2023 and 2024, evaluated the progress of six African countries—Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Morocco, Madagascar, and Nigeria—in implementing CAPAR. The assessments are based on a comprehensive tool developed by the CAPAR Civil Society Network, which uses a traffic light system to measure compliance with CAPAR’s recommendations.
Nigeria, which has long been at the forefront of the global conversation on asset recovery, has made significant strides in asset repatriation. Over the past 25 years, the country has successfully recovered over $5 billion in illicit assets, including the high-profile repatriation of funds looted by former military ruler Sani Abacha.
However, the report highlights several areas that need further attention. While Nigeria has made notable progress in detecting and identifying assets (with 58% of relevant indicators met), there are still significant gaps in the recovery and return of assets, with only 29% of indicators fully met. Additionally, the management of recovered assets remains a challenge. Although Nigeria enacted the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act in 2022, the implementation of effective management strategies for recovered assets is still lacking.
One of the main recommendations for Nigeria is the need for greater citizen and civil society engagement. The absence of a whistleblower protection framework remains a critical issue, hindering the public’s ability to report corruption and illicit financial activities safely.
Vaclav Prusa, a key contributor to the report, emphasized the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s asset recovery processes, both nationally and internationally. He called on the Nigerian government to improve inter-agency coordination, promote transparency in asset management, and engage more effectively with civil society to ensure that recovered assets are used for the benefit of the public.
“We urge the Nigerian government to focus on creating a robust framework for the management of recovered assets,” Prusa said. “Additionally, introducing whistleblower protection and ensuring public access to asset recovery records will enhance accountability and foster trust among citizens.”
The CAPAR assessments provide a valuable benchmark for monitoring Nigeria’s asset recovery efforts and offer a comparative framework for other African nations. The results of these assessments are crucial in identifying areas of improvement and setting priorities for reform.
As Nigeria continues to lead the charge in asset recovery, it is clear that while progress has been made, there is still much work to be done. The launch of these six assessments provides a critical opportunity for policymakers, civil society, and international partners to collaborate and enhance the effectiveness of asset recovery efforts across the continent.
CISLAC’s ongoing efforts to monitor and evaluate the implementation of CAPAR will play a crucial role in ensuring that Nigeria and other African nations remain accountable in their pursuit of justice and economic reform.