Customs Seeks Stronger Inter-Agency Collaboration Against Terrorism Financing, Transnational Crimes

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has called for stronger inter-agency collaboration and intelligence sharing to combat terrorism financing, money laundering, wildlife trafficking and other transnational crimes.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the call on Thursday during a study tour by participants of the Operational Level Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Regional Security Course from the National Defence College at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

Adeniyi said the role of Customs has expanded beyond revenue generation and border enforcement to tackling financial crimes linked to trade violations, wildlife trafficking and illicit cross-border movements.

He described Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list as a major achievement that restored investor confidence and improved the country’s international financial reputation.

The Customs boss also disclosed ongoing collaboration between the Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit and airline operators on automated currency declaration systems.

According to him, stronger cooperation among security and regulatory agencies is necessary to effectively counter organised criminal networks.

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.

He stressed the need for coordinated efforts among security agencies, including the DSS, Office of the National Security Adviser, Armed Forces and Customs, to tackle the threat effectively.

Also speaking, the officer in charge of the Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing Unit of the NCS, Assistant Comptroller Mas’ud Salihu, highlighted the role of Customs in enforcing currency declaration policies and intercepting illicit goods, arms and drugs.