Nigeria Customs Strengthens Cooperation with Six Agencies to Combat Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to tackle cross-border money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial crimes through stronger intelligence sharing and operational cooperation with six security and regulatory agencies.

The agencies include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Nigeria Immigration Service and National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The initiative followed a three-day engagement held between October 27 and 29, 2026, aimed at addressing information-sharing gaps and improving the detection of suspicious cross-border transactions.

Customs Seeks Stronger Inter-Agency Coordination

According to a statement by Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, the engagement was led by the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shuaibu.

Shuaibu said the exercise was designed to move beyond routine consultations by examining practical Customs control measures at selected border stations and improving cooperation among institutions responsible for tackling financial crimes and national security threats.

He explained that the objective was to detect and disrupt illicit financial flows through field visits, intelligence sharing and direct engagement with relevant agencies.

During the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, represented by Muhammed-Mustapha, commended Customs for its contribution to border security and its longstanding relationship with the financial intelligence agency.

Agencies Identify Challenges to Information Sharing

The engagement also featured participation from a World Customs Organisation mentoring team led by Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, which shared approaches to combating money laundering and terrorism financing.

However, discussions identified communication gaps, bureaucratic bottlenecks and database privacy concerns as challenges affecting information exchange among government institutions.

Participants examined ways to address these obstacles and improve coordination so that shared intelligence could be acted upon more efficiently. Awards and World Customs Organisation certificates were also presented to participating agencies in recognition of their contributions.

Customs Showcases Digital Transformation in Brussels

In a related development, the Nigeria Customs Service presented its modernisation programme at the World Customs Organisation Smart Customs Project Global Event 2026, held at the organisation's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, from October 29 to 30.

Represented by Assistant Comptroller Omolara Adedeji, the Service highlighted its Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, alongside investments in artificial intelligence, data analytics and electronic cargo tracking.

In a presentation titled “Nigeria Customs Service: The Journey Towards Smart Customs,” Adedeji said the reforms were aimed at improving operational efficiency, strengthening risk management and making trade processes more transparent.

She identified smart technology and smart data as the two major pillars of Nigeria's Smart Customs vision. These include automated processes, integrated digital platforms, intelligence-led interventions and data-driven decision-making.

The Service said its modernisation drive represents a transition towards more integrated digital operations, with B’Odogwu designed to support automated Customs procedures, electronic processing and improved engagement with government agencies and private-sector operators.

Punch Newspapers