The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken steps to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in tackling cross-border illicit financial flows, money laundering, corruption, drug trafficking, terrorism financing, and other related offences. The NCS engaged six federal government agencies in a three-day visit from 27 to 29 October 2026, led by Assistant Comptroller-General Muhammad Shuaibu. The visit aimed to deepen strategic cooperation and intelligence sharing among the agencies to combat financial crimes and other illicit activities.
The six agencies involved in the collaboration include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Shuaibu expressed that the initiative was aimed at enhancing inter-agency coordination in addressing threats to Nigeria’s economy and national security.
During the engagements, participants identified communication gaps, bureaucracy, and database privacy concerns as impediments to effective inter-agency collaboration. The discussions explored measures to address these challenges and strengthen institutional synergy. The NCS also featured the presentation of awards and certificates to the agencies, demonstrating the Service’s commitment to enhancing collaboration in tackling threats to Nigeria’s economy and national security.
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) Mentoring Team, led by Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, interacted with the agencies on approaches to addressing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT). The team called for stronger collaboration with the NCS to ensure the success of the initiative. The engagements included field visits to selected border stations to assess practical Customs control measures and engage with relevant agencies.
The Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, represented by Muhammed-Mustapha, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its efforts in combating smuggling and reinforcing border security. He noted the longstanding relationship between the two institutions, stating that when NFIU was created, NCS was the first to collaborate with them. Mustapha emphasized that no particular agency understands things better than how Customs does globally.
The NCS initiative aims to effectively detect and disrupt cross-border illicit financial flows. Shuaibu stated that the measures include field visits to selected border stations to assess practical Customs control measures and engage with relevant agencies. The collaboration seeks to address threats to Nigeria’s economy and national security.
The inter-agency collaboration marks a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to combat financial crimes and strengthen border security. The engagements demonstrated the commitment of the NCS and other agencies to enhance cooperation and tackle threats to the country’s economy and national security.
Key points
- The Nigeria Customs Service has engaged six federal government agencies to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in tackling cross-border illicit financial flows and other related offences.
- The collaboration aims to address threats to Nigeria’s economy and national security.
- The initiative includes field visits to selected border stations to assess practical Customs control measures and engage with relevant agencies.
