EFCC and FBI Investigate Missing Funds for Health Programs in Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are looking into claims of missing and mismanaged funds meant for HIV and tuberculosis programs in Nigeria.

On Friday, the agency's spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, shared that the investigation started after a meeting between officials from both agencies at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 on Thursday.

The statement mentioned that the FBI team, led by Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché, Macus Maccain, informed the EFCC that some groups that received money for these programs might have mismanaged or diverted funds after the U.S. government stopped some programs in 2025.

“We are seeking stronger engagement with the EFCC to establish how the funds were managed and identify possible financial misconduct arising from the termination of the programs,” Mr. Maccain said.

The EFCC did not reveal how much money is involved or the names of the organizations being looked into.

Jeremy Kennon, a special agent from the U.S. Department of State, stated that both the United States and Nigerian governments had funded groups that worked on HIV and tuberculosis programs in Nigeria.

He explained that some of these groups set up one-stop centers where people could get HIV treatment and other services.

Mr. Kennon pointed out that reviews of these programs raised worries about high budgets and other financial issues in Kano State and other regions in Nigeria.

He added that similar issues have also been found in other countries.

He mentioned that the FBI aims to build a long-term partnership with the EFCC to investigate this case and others like it.

“We’d like to work with the EFCC on this on a long-term basis, and we will be sharing information with you; not just getting information from you,” he said.

Bawa Kaltungo, acting zonal director of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, welcomed the FBI team on behalf of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede.

Mr. Kaltungo affirmed that the commission would look into the claims and track the funds to the organizations that received them.

He explained that investigators would find out how the money was spent and if it was used for its intended purposes.

They will also check if any of the funds were mismanaged or diverted after the programs were stopped, he said.

Mr. Kaltungo noted that the investigation would include all states where the affected organizations operated.

“The EFCC will work with the FBI to follow the financial trail and establish the facts surrounding the alleged diversion of the funds,” he stated.

This investigation comes a few months after some U.S.-funded HIV services in Nigeria were disrupted due to the U.S. government’s decision to pause foreign assistance in 2025.

Reports say that USAID had contributed about US$2.8 billion to health care in Nigeria between 2022 and 2024.

UNAIDS said in March 2025 that the disruption affected HIV services in Nigeria, including community testing and services offered through one-stop centers.

More than 80 one-stop centers were impacted by the funding disruption, according to the agency.

The halt of USAID funding has disrupted years of progress in fighting infectious diseases, improving maternal and child health, and strengthening Nigeria’s response to public health issues.

Currently, some Nigerians living with HIV are turning to herbal medicine and faith healers to help manage the virus.