MANTRA Final Report
The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) wishes to appreciate all those who contributed in one way or the other to the success of the MANTRA Project, a vehicle used by ANEEJ to monitor the utilization of $322.5million recovered loot in Nigeria. We attribute the success first, to God Almighty.
The collaborative role of State actors was remarkable. Some of them include the former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbanjo who launched the MANTRA Project in 2018, the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), former Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, former Special Adviser to the President on Justice Sector Reform and International Asset Recovery, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, former Head of the Asset Recovery and Management Unit (ARMU), Hajia Ladidi Mohammed, the former Coordinators of the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office, Mr. Iorwa Apera and the former Head of NCTO, Dr. Temitope Sinkaiye, the current National Programme Manager, NCTO, Dr. Michael Ajuluchukwu, the M & E officer of NCTO and focal person for ANEEJ, Mabel Onyekachi, the Heads of Units at sub-national levels, the Desk Officers and Cash Transfer Facilitators across the country.
We appreciate the invaluable support provided by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the ACORN Programme. In this respect we wish to place on record the contributions of the former ACORN programme SRO, Ms. Sonia Warner. She followed through all our initial plans for MANTRA project and provided very useful insights and guide for a successful implementation. We are also grateful for the role played by the SRO, Mr. Chris Okeke.
Our deepest appreciation also goes to Sommer Tobias EDA SRO, Iff Andrea Cornelia EDA IFA, Fouad Amir EDA FOR and Schifferle Lukas EDA SFL of the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria and the Swiss government for their technical and financial support for the completion of the MANTRA project.
We equally appreciate the eight MANTRA project implementing partners. They include Bayelsa Non- Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF), Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC), Resource Centre for Human rights and Civil Education (CHRICED), Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC), the New Apostolic Centre for Development (NCD), Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative (FAWOYDI) and the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD).
To all the religious, traditional/community leaders, civil society organisations (including the media) and over 1,459 monitors who directly monitored the utilization of the $322.5m recovered loot, we say thank you. Without the cooperation and active participation of these groups, the implementation of the project would not have been possible.
Finally, we recognise the leadership and supervisory role provided by the Deputy Executive Director of ANEEJ, Leo Atakpu and other team leaders in the implementation of the Project. We remain grateful to Innocent Edemhanria for coordinating the monitoring exercises, Sandra Eguagie who worked closely with the M&E Consultant, Dr Omowunmi Olabalu Asani. To other ANEEJ staff, individuals and groups who contributed to the success of the project, we say thank you. – Rev David Ugolor, ANEEJ Executive Director