Nigeria Police Launches Workshop To Tackle Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing
— IGP urges stronger inter-agency synergy as experts gather in Abuja
Money laundering remains a persistent challenge in Nigeria, fuelling corruption, weakening institutions, and undermining national development.
With billions of naira illicitly moved through the financial system annually, criminals exploit legal and institutional loopholes to legitimise proceeds of crime.
As Nigeria works to improve its global anti-financial crime rating, the country’s inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list signals the urgency for enhanced enforcement and inter-agency collaboration.
In response, the Nigeria Police Force has kicked off a three-day workshop aimed at tackling the twin threats of money laundering and terrorism financing.
The capacity-building event, held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Abuja, is organised in partnership with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DIG Frank Mba, reaffirmed the Force’s unwavering commitment to national and global security. .
He emphasised the importance of the training, particularly as Nigeria remains on the FATF grey list.
The workshop brought together top security and legal stakeholders, including representatives from the Attorney General’s office, EFCC, ICPC, NSCDC, NIBSS, and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In his keynote address, the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented by Mrs Jamila Akaaga Ade, described financial crimes as global threats that demand smarter, technology-driven responses.
He urged participants to maximise the opportunity to sharpen their expertise and deepen inter-agency collaboration.
The IGP further stressed that while Nigeria has strong legislative frameworks, including the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2022, enforcement is the real test of effectiveness.
He referenced the establishment of the Police Counter-Terrorism Unit in 2007 as a proactive move and called for sustained synergy with agencies such as the DSS, EFCC, and NFIU.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to innovation, capacity building, and cross-agency cooperation in the fight against financial crimes.
The IGP also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for their continued support, noting that removing Nigeria from the FATF grey list remains a key priority.
The workshop runs through to Friday, 20th June.
