Customs seeks stronger collaboration against terrorism financing, transnational crimes

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service has stressed the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and coordinated enforcement to tackle terrorism financing, money laundering, wildlife trafficking, and other transnational organised crimes.

According to a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated this on Wednesday during a study tour by participants of the Operational Level Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Regional Security Course 2 held at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

Adeniyi said the fight against financial and cross-border crimes requires sustained cooperation among security agencies and relevant stakeholders, noting that criminal networks have become increasingly sophisticated in exploiting global trade and financial systems.

“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.

He described Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list as a major achievement that helped restore investor confidence and improve the country’s global financial reputation.

According to him, prior to the development, Nigerian-issued bank cards faced restrictions in some foreign countries, negatively affecting international transactions and the nation’s image.

The Customs boss also noted that the responsibilities of the Service now extend beyond revenue generation and border control, explaining that offences such as under-valuation, over-valuation, wildlife trafficking, and the illicit movement of African resources have become major financial crimes.

He further disclosed that the Service is collaborating with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, and airline operators on the deployment of automated currency declaration systems aimed at strengthening financial surveillance and compliance.

Earlier, the Team Lead and Course Director Coordinator of the Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Unit at the National Defence College, Dr Adam Abdullahi, said terrorism financing remains a major driver of insecurity globally.

“The lifeline of terrorism is financing, and tackling it cannot be done by one institution alone,” Abdullahi said.

He emphasised the need for collaboration among the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, Customs, and other agencies to ensure effective coordination against security threats.

Also speaking, the officer in charge of the Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing Unit of the Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller Mas’ud Salihu, said criminal groups continue to exploit international supply chains and global connectivity to move illicit goods and funds across borders.

Salihu highlighted the role of Customs in enforcing currency declaration regulations and intercepting prohibited items, including arms and narcotics, while calling for stronger local and international cooperation in combating transnational crimes.