The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with security and intelligence agencies in the fight against terrorism financing, money laundering, wildlife trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crimes threatening national and regional security.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known on Wednesday during a study tour by participants of the Operational Level Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Regional Security Course 2 at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
The delegation, drawn from the National Defence College, visited the Service as part of efforts to deepen institutional understanding and cooperation in tackling evolving security threats linked to illicit financial flows and organised criminal networks.
Speaking during the engagement, Adeniyi stressed that combating terrorism financing and cross-border crimes requires stronger intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement strategies and sustained inter-agency synergy among security institutions.
“For us to get ahead of these criminals, we must continue to work together and subject our individual mandates to broader national security objectives,” the Customs boss stated.
He described Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list as a major achievement that has improved investor confidence and enhanced the country’s global financial credibility.
According to him, Nigeria’s inclusion on the grey list previously created difficulties for Nigerians conducting international transactions, including restrictions on the use of Nigerian-issued bank cards abroad.
Adeniyi explained that the responsibilities of Customs have expanded significantly beyond traditional revenue collection and border control, noting that trade-based crimes such as undervaluation, overvaluation, illicit wildlife trafficking and illegal exportation of African resources now constitute major financial and security threats.
He disclosed that the Service is currently working closely with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit and airline operators to implement automated currency declaration systems aimed at improving transparency and curbing illicit financial movements across borders.
The Customs boss also commended ongoing capacity-building efforts within the Service and praised officers from various formations nationwide for participating actively in specialised security and anti-financial crime programmes.
Earlier, the Team Lead and Course Director of the Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Unit at the National Defence College, Dr. Adam Abdullahi, underscored the critical role of financing in sustaining terrorist operations globally.
“The lifeline of terrorism is financing, and tackling it cannot be done by one institution alone,” Abdullahi said.
He emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation among the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies to effectively combat terrorism and organised criminal activities.
In a presentation during the programme, the officer in charge of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller Mas’ud Salihu, warned that criminal syndicates are increasingly exploiting global supply chains and international connectivity to move illicit goods and funds across borders.
Salihu highlighted the role of Customs officers in enforcing currency declaration regulations and intercepting prohibited items such as arms, narcotics and other contraband materials.
He called for deeper local and international partnerships to strengthen intelligence exchange, improve border surveillance and enhance enforcement against transnational criminal networks operating across multiple jurisdictions.
