A group, Good Governance Initiative (GGI), has called for transparent investigation into the management of donor-funded health programmes in Nigeria, following the probe by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the alleged diversion of international health funds.
Coordinator of GGI, Mr Eugene Morka, said the investigation should examine the procurement processes and activities of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), among others.
In a statement, Morka, said weaknesses in procurement and inadequate oversight could create opportunities for corruption in donor-funded health interventions.
‘To truly protect critical health programmes, the investigation must thoroughly examine the integrity of procurement processes, contractor eligibility, compliance requirements and programme implementation,’ he added.
According to him, investigators should establish whether contracts were awarded transparently, whether successful bidders met applicable regulatory requirements and whether contractors possessed valid government certificates at the time of bidding.
The group also called for greater scrutiny of the role of international donor agencies in monitoring local implementing entities, arguing that inadequate oversight could undermine efforts to safeguard funds intended for critical health interventions.
GGI said its inquiries indicated that the Global Fund maintains a dedicated auditing department aimed at mitigating procurement risks, while information on successful bidders could be accessed through the Freedom of Information (FOI) framework.
It added that corporate information relating to bidders is transmitted to relevant regulatory authorities after the opening of bids.
However, Morka said the existence of such safeguards should not prevent investigators from examining specific allegations where credible concerns have been raised.
‘While these mechanisms provide useful safeguards, specific corruption allegations must still be independently examined wherever credible concerns exist,’ he said.
GGI said its engagements with anti-corruption authorities suggested that procurement compliance was receiving increased attention, particularly in cases involving companies allegedly unable to produce valid government certificates or those suspected of benefiting from political influence.
The group said verification of both past and current contractors was being pursued, adding that companies found to have violated procurement requirements could face legal action.
Morka described the FBI-EFCC collaboration as timely, saying a joint investigation could strengthen efforts to establish what happened to funds allocated for healthcare interventions.
‘The decision by the FBI and EFCC to work together is timely and reassuring,’ he said.
He urged the agencies to scrutinise financial records, procurement documents, company registration details and banking transactions linked to the programmes.
‘We expect the EFCC to follow the money wherever it leads. If there was diversion, inflated expenditure or fictitious activities, the law must take its course,’ Morka said.
The GGI coordinator, however, stressed that the investigation should remain strictly evidence-driven to prevent innocent individuals from being wrongly implicated or those responsible from being shielded.
He urged the FBI and EFCC to publish their findings at the conclusion of the investigation, particularly regarding compliance certificates issued to contractors and implementing agencies.
The group also called for the recovery of any funds found to have been diverted from Nigeria’s healthcare system, while urging donor agencies to strengthen oversight mechanisms to prevent future abuses.