Customs Seeks Stronger Collaboration Against Terrorism Financing, Transnational Crimes
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called for enhanced collaboration among security and regulatory agencies to combat terrorism financing, money laundering, wildlife trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crimes threatening national and regional security.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the call during a study tour by participants of the Operational Level Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Regional Security Course 2 (CFTRSC-OPL2) from the National Defence College at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi said stronger intelligence sharing, institutional cooperation and inter-agency synergy were critical to effectively tackling emerging financial and transnational crimes.
He noted that the responsibilities of the Customs Service have expanded beyond revenue generation and border enforcement to include combating trade-based financial crimes such as undervaluation, overvaluation, wildlife trafficking and the illicit movement of African resources.
According to him, such criminal activities have become major threats to economic and national security.
The Customs boss described Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as a major achievement that restored investor confidence and improved the country’s international financial reputation.
He recalled that prior to Nigeria’s exit from the grey list, Nigerian-issued bank cards faced restrictions abroad, negatively affecting international transactions and the country’s global image.
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Adeniyi also disclosed that the Service is collaborating with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit and airline operators on automated currency declaration systems aimed at strengthening financial surveillance and compliance.
“For us to get ahead of these criminals, we must continue to work together and subject our individual mandates to broader national security objectives,” he said.
Earlier, the Team Lead and Course Director of the programme, Dr Adam Abdullahi, who also coordinates the Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Unit at the National Defence College, stressed that terrorism financing remains the backbone of terrorist activities worldwide.
He said effective response requires close coordination among the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, Customs and other relevant agencies.
“The lifeline of terrorism is financing, and tackling it cannot be done by one institution alone,” Abdullahi said.
In a presentation during the visit, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Mas’ud Salihu, who heads the Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing Unit of the NCS, explained how criminal networks exploit global supply chains and international connectivity to move illicit funds and prohibited goods across borders.
He highlighted the role of Customs in enforcing currency declaration policies, intercepting arms and narcotics, and supporting efforts aimed at disrupting organised criminal networks.
Salihu also called for stronger domestic and international partnerships to address the growing sophistication of transnational crimes.
By PRNigeria
