Nigeria Customs Intensifies Fight Against Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing

The Nigeria Customs Service has intensified efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing through a sensitisation programme for officers of its Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Unit held at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

The programme, held as part of the Service’s first-quarter operational review and capacity-building activities, focused on strengthening professionalism, ethical standards and inter-agency collaboration in tackling illicit financial flows.

Speaking during the session, the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shuaibu, said the initiative underscored the growing importance of AML/CFT operations within the Nigeria Customs Service and the country’s wider financial and security framework.

Shuaibu noted that the impact of the unit extends beyond seaports, airports and border stations, adding that its achievements over the past year had made it a critical component in safeguarding Nigeria’s financial system. He also highlighted improvements in the country’s financial ecosystem, stating that Nigerian-issued bank cards are now globally functional with automatic currency conversion for international transactions.

“This is a major milestone. Nigerians can now travel and use their cards anywhere in the world, with transactions reflecting the local currency,” he said.

He further described postings to the AML/CFT Unit as opportunities for career development and capacity building, while also referencing the Service’s collaboration with the World Customs Organization to align its operations with international best practices.

Also speaking, the Acting Provost Marshal, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Saulawa Sunusi, urged officers to uphold integrity, professionalism and discipline in the discharge of their duties.

Sunusi stressed the need for officers to continually improve their skills through training and maintain fairness, punctuality and ethical conduct, adding that strong internal collaboration and effective conflict resolution were essential for operational success.

In his remarks, the National Coordinator of AML/CFT, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Mas’ud Salihu, said financial crimes were increasingly evolving into digital and virtual spaces, requiring proactive measures from security agencies.

He explained that ongoing efforts were aimed at strengthening enforcement mechanisms,improving communication between field officers and management, and identifying operational gaps to better tackle emerging threats.

The session also featured a lecture on service correspondence delivered by Deputy Comptroller of Customs Faisal Abubakar, who guided officers on effective official communication and adherence to established protocols.