The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO), has sought to strengthen its partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism in Nigeria.
The renewed collaboration followed a courtesy visit by a delegation led by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Headquarters, M.S. Shuaibu, to the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
The visit was aimed at strengthening existing cooperation, identifying operational gaps and improving Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.
Speaking during the visit, Shuaibu commended the EFCC for sustaining its longstanding relationship with the Customs Service, particularly in the discharge of their respective mandates.
He called for deeper cooperation in case management, intelligence sharing and operational coordination to enhance the effectiveness of efforts to combat financial crimes.
“The EFCC’s mandate as the lead agency in combating economic and financial crimes has been remarkable. We are here to engage on our existing collaboration to identify what is working and what needs improvement,” he said.
Shuaibu added that the engagement would provide an opportunity to examine operational practices, strengthen information exchange and improve understanding of Nigeria’s AML/CFT framework, the WCO’s perspective and internationally recommended best practices.
Responding, EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who was represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammad Hammajoda, acknowledged the longstanding partnership between the commission and the Customs Service, particularly in tackling money laundering.
He assured the delegation of the EFCC’s commitment to sustaining and expanding the partnership to address emerging financial crimes and terrorism financing threats.
Hammajoda recalled that Nigeria had previously been placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list over deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework. He attributed the country’s subsequent removal from the list to sustained efforts and collaboration among relevant agencies.
He noted that the development had improved Nigeria’s international standing and eased certain financial transactions for Nigerians travelling abroad.
“That is why the EFCC and Customs are working as authorities to ensure that money laundering is tackled, with no room for the financing of terrorism,” he said.
The EFCC secretary further expressed the commission’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the WCO, particularly in capacity building, information sharing and operational coordination.
The renewed engagement is expected to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, improve the exchange of financial intelligence and support efforts to prevent illicit financial flows and the financing of terrorism in Nigeria.
