Post by Rural Development, Information and Legal Advocacy Centre

TRACKING DONOR FUNDS: How RUDILAC Uncovered Contradictions in IOM Nigeria's Returnee Reintegration Projects In February 2020, IOM announced that two Edo State reintegration factories — the Ehor Cassava Factory and the Iguobazuwa Pineapple Factory — had created 67 jobs for returnees and local youth. These projects were funded under the EU-IOM Joint Initiative with support from the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. But what do the records actually show? 🔍 Here's what RUDILAC found: ✅ ~USD 151,800 was spent on the Iguobazuwa Pineapple Factory through contractors and equipment suppliers ✅ Kadal Construction Work Ltd received USD 83,059 to build the factory ✅ The Ehor Cassava Factory attracted expenditures estimated between USD 51,200 and USD 130,000 ✅ ~USD 509,000 in Edo reintegration spending went mainly to contractors, vendors, hotels, transporters, and service providers ❌ Despite claims of a returnee-owned enterprise, the records reportedly contain NO cooperative registration, shareholder list, payroll, production, or sales records. ❌ No documentary evidence exists of the 25 jobs, returnee ownership structure, or factory operations publicly announced for Ehor. ⚖️ RUDILAC/FOI Counsel sought access to project records in the case of RUDILAC v IOM (Suit No: FHC/L/CS/767/2019) — but IOM declined disclosure, relying on privileges and immunities. The full report has now been released to RUDILAC/FOI Counsel by whistleblowers within IOM and has been submitted to IOM's Office of the Inspector General for investigation into alleged misconduct, concealment, and accountability failures. Donor funds meant for vulnerable returnees deserve full transparency. Accountability is not optional. #Accountability #DonorFunds #IOM #Nigeria #EdoState #FOICOUNSEL #FOI4ALL #FOIA #MigrantReintegration #RUDILAC #Transparency #EUTrustFund #FOI #WhistleBlower #HumanRights #AidAccountability #MigrationPolicy #CivilSociety #PublicInterest #Nigeria #NigeriaNews #EndImpunity