EFCC counters Vanguard’s concerns on SCUML
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reacted to the Vanguard newspaper editorial of July 29, which shed light on Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a unit of the anti-graft agency.
The editorial, “EFCC’s SCUML certification conundrum,” provided critical and insightful probe into the workability of SCUML.
The paper had alluded to the fact that technological reform has notably eluded the EFCC thereby making it near impossible to process certificate application.
According to Vanguard “applicants encounter numerous issues on the SCUML portal. First, there are no clear instructions on critical requirements such as document size or format. Second, the portal limits uploads to a single file, even though up to ten documents are requested. Applicants must independently learn to merge and compress files—a technical step not mentioned anywhere. Vague error messages add to the confusion. Many experience repeated rejections citing ‘illegible documents’ or ‘file too large,’ despite compressing and merging files as required.
The paper also noted that customer support is also lacking: listed telephone lines are often non-functional, forcing applicants to visit EFCC offices in person, where inconsistent advice causes further frustration. This inefficient process, the editorial noted, wastes applicants’ time and resources and hinders their ability to legally open bank accounts, damaging entrepreneurship and the non-profit sector alike, among other observations.
However, in its reaction, the EFCC on Wednesday in a statement signed by the commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, emphasised that the newspaper missed some salient points concerning SCUML.
Titled: “The points Vanguard Missed about SCUML Registration,” the commission said glaring inaccuracies and unverified issues were raised in the editorial.
The statement reads in part: “Against the backdrop of The Vanguard’s Editorial of Tuesday, July 29, 2025 entitled: “EFCC’s SCUML Certification Conundrum” where some glaring inaccuracies and unverified issues are raised about the workings of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML, it is helpful that salient facts about the Unit are laid bare to the public.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is sensitive to the significance of SCUML’s responsibilities and services to the nation. To this effect, the portal for online registration for SCUML’s certificate is accessible, functional and effective.
“Available statistics indicate that the traffic of applications for the Unit’s certificate across the country averages 600 applications daily. Regular reviews and updates are made on the portal to ensure the processes are as seamless as possible.
“The application process is simple with clear instructions on critical requirements, especially as it relates to the size or format of documents. The portal also does not limit uploads to a single file. It is equally noteworthy that registration for certificates has been simplified for applicants with their complete documents. The turnaround time for the issuance of certificates to successful applicants has been cut to between two to three days.
“This fact was perhaps instrumental in SCUML’s recent endorsement by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which in its July 2025 ranking, rated it 3rd among all Nigerian public service entities. It also adjudged it as one of the leading public service delivery entities following the vision of the PEBEC to make businesses in Nigeria easier, more transparent and less bureaucratic.
“Contrary to the inference in Vanguard’s editorial, claims of “vague messages”, “illegible documents” appearing on the registration portal are digital responses to errors committed by applicants who failed to adhere to instructions outlined on the portal and initiated registration in defiance of established protocols.
“The Unit sadly discovered that many applicants apply with non-functional emails, incomplete information, or conflicting data, thereby rendering their application unsuccessful. The Unit has been working to address this challenge, which is partly attributable to poor digital literacy among the applicants, with various sensitization programmes in the media and enlightenment workshops for stakeholders across the country. The helplines of the Unit are also available for those who encounter difficulties in making the online application.
“Continuous process improvement and excellent service delivery are a core value of SCUML. Over the years, it has consistently worked to improve customers’ experience through innovation. In the next few weeks, the Unit plans to introduce digital animation in the three major Nigerian languages- Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, with a step-by-step guide on how to submit the online application.
“The Unit is also reviving its radio and television jingles for deeper penetration of the grassroots. These features, it is hoped, will erase the challenges still being experienced by some applicants.
“While it is within the right of every Nigerian to demand effective service from any government agency, such an agitation should be premised on genuine claims and tenable reservations. The EFCC is globally respected for its professionalism and commitment to excellence. SCUML is offering top-of-the- range services and will continue to improve on its processes in the overall interests of Nigerians.”
