Customs, NFIU, EFCC, NDLEA, 4 Others Strengthen Alliance Against Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to combat cross-border money laundering, terrorism financing and other transnational financial crimes through a renewed partnership with six security and regulatory agencies.
The collaboration, which seeks to strengthen intelligence sharing, improve operational coordination and disrupt illicit financial networks, involves the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The initiative followed a three-day inter-agency engagement held between October 27 and 29, 2026, to address existing gaps in intelligence sharing and enhance the detection of suspicious cross-border transactions.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said the engagement was led by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shuaibu.
Shuaibu explained that the initiative was designed to strengthen institutional collaboration among agencies responsible for combating financial crimes and safeguarding national security.
He said the engagement would extend beyond routine consultations to include practical assessments of Customs control mechanisms at border stations and improved cooperation among relevant institutions.
“The sole objective of this mission is to effectively detect and disrupt cross-border illicit financial flows. The measures include field visits to selected border stations to assess practical Customs control measures and engage with relevant agencies,” he said.
The engagement comes amid growing concerns over the exploitation of Nigeria’s borders for smuggling, drug trafficking, illicit financial transactions and other organised transnational criminal activities.
Speaking during the exercise, the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Intelligence Security Service Sector, Muhammed-Mustapha, commended the Customs Service for its contributions to border security and the fight against smuggling.
He described the relationship between the two institutions as longstanding, recalling that the NCS was among the first agencies to establish a collaborative relationship with the financial intelligence unit following its creation.
“When NFIU was created, NCS was the first to collaborate with us. No particular agency understands things better than how Customs does globally,” he said.
Read Also:
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) mentoring team, led by Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, also participated in the engagement, sharing international best practices on combating money laundering and terrorism financing.
The team emphasised the need for stronger institutional partnerships and coordinated responses to evolving financial crimes.
However, discussions during the engagement identified communication gaps, bureaucratic bottlenecks and concerns over database privacy as major challenges undermining effective information exchange among government agencies.
Participants subsequently explored measures to address the identified constraints and strengthen institutional frameworks for the timely sharing and utilisation of intelligence.
The exercise also featured the presentation of Nigeria Customs Service awards and World Customs Organisation certificates to participating agencies in recognition of their contributions to the initiative.
Meanwhile, the Customs Service has showcased its digital transformation and modernisation efforts at an international event organised by the World Customs Organisation in Brussels, Belgium.
The Service presented its reforms at the WCO Smart Customs Project Global Event 2026, held at the organisation’s headquarters from October 29 to 30.
Represented by Assistant Comptroller Omolara Adedeji, the NCS highlighted its Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, alongside investments in artificial intelligence, data analytics and electronic cargo tracking.
In a presentation titled “Nigeria Customs Service: The Journey Towards Smart Customs,” Adedeji said the modernisation programme was aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening risk management and promoting transparency in trade processes.
She explained that the Service was transitioning from traditional Customs operations to integrated digital systems through automation, electronic processing and data-driven decision-making.
Adedeji identified smart technology and smart data as the two fundamental pillars of Nigeria’s Smart Customs vision.
According to her, smart technology encompasses automation, integrated systems, digital platforms and modern information and communications technology infrastructure, while smart data focuses on intelligence-led interventions, data-driven risk assessment, analytics and improved information sharing.
She further described B’Odogwu as a major component of the modernisation initiative, noting that the platform was designed to automate Customs procedures, facilitate electronic processing and strengthen engagement with government institutions and private-sector operators.
The developments underscore the Customs Service’s twin-track approach to border management: strengthening inter-agency cooperation against transnational criminal networks while leveraging digital technology to improve trade facilitation, intelligence-led enforcement and national security.
By PRNigeria
