Border Control
Nigeria Customs Calls for Stronger Collaboration Against Terror Financing, Transnational Crimes
Nigeria’s customs authorities have called for deeper collaboration among security and financial agencies to combat terrorism financing, money laundering, wildlife trafficking, and other forms of transnational organised crime.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, said stronger intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement are now critical as criminal networks become more sophisticated and globally connected.
Speaking 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 Abuja on 21 May 2026, Adeniyi said the nature of financial crimes has evolved far beyond traditional border offences.
“For us to get ahead of these criminals, we must continue to work together and subject our individual mandates to broader national security objectives,” he said.
Why the issue matters
Authorities say transnational crimes increasingly threaten Nigeria’s economic stability, national security, and international reputation.
Adeniyi described Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as a major turning point that improved investor confidence and strengthened the country’s standing in the global financial system.
According to him, Nigeria’s previous placement on the grey list had practical consequences for citizens and businesses, including restrictions on the use of Nigerian-issued bank cards abroad.
Security analysts say countries on the FATF grey list often face tighter scrutiny in international financial transactions, making foreign investment and global banking operations more difficult.
The Customs chief said modern financial crimes now include trade-based offences such as undervaluation, overvaluation, illicit resource movement, and wildlife trafficking.
“These are no longer isolated customs violations,” he said, adding that many are now linked to wider criminal and terrorist financing networks.
Customs expands anti-money laundering measures
The Nigeria Customs Service said it is strengthening partnerships with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, and airline operators to improve automated currency declaration systems at airports.
Officials believe digital tracking and improved data-sharing could help authorities detect suspicious financial flows more quickly.
Industry experts say stronger airport monitoring systems are increasingly important as criminal groups exploit international travel routes and supply chains to move illicit funds and goods.
National Defence College calls for united response
Earlier, Dr Adam Abdullahi, Team Lead and Course Director Coordinator of the Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Unit at the National Defence College, warned that terrorism financing remains one of the biggest security threats facing countries globally.
“The lifeline of terrorism is financing, and tackling it cannot be done by one institution alone,” he said.
He called for closer cooperation among the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, Customs, and other security agencies.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that fragmented intelligence operations can create loopholes that criminal networks exploit.
Criminal networks exploiting global systems
In a presentation during the visit, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Mas’ud Salihu, who heads the Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Financing Unit, said criminal groups are increasingly using global supply chains and cross-border trade systems to move illegal goods and money.
He highlighted the role of Customs in enforcing currency declaration policies and intercepting prohibited items, including drugs and arms.
Salihu also called for stronger international cooperation, saying criminal networks often operate across multiple countries and jurisdictions.
What’s next?
The Nigeria Customs Service is expected to continue expanding its intelligence-sharing systems and digital monitoring tools as part of broader efforts to strengthen border security and financial crime enforcement.
Analysts say future success will depend on sustained coordination among security agencies, financial regulators, and international partners.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Ogun I Area Command has strengthened its collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to combat smuggling and other cross-border crimes along the Idiroko corridor in Ogun State.
The renewed partnership was announced during a high-level courtesy visit by the Police Area Commander in Idiroko and the Border Patrol Commander to the Customs command.
Officials said the meeting focused on improving intelligence sharing and coordinating operations to dismantle smuggling networks operating along the border.
The development comes as authorities intensify efforts to protect Nigeria’s economy from illicit trade and revenue losses linked to cross-border smuggling.
Why it matters
The border town of Idiroko is a major transit route connecting Nigeria to neighbouring communities in Benin Republic.
Security agencies say the corridor has long been vulnerable to smuggling activities involving food items, fuel, and other contraband goods.
Joint operations between the Customs Service and Police are expected to improve enforcement, reduce illegal trade, and enhance safety for residents in border communities.
Customs: intelligence collaboration key to stability
Speaking during the visit, the Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the area currently enjoys relative calm but warned that sustained cooperation among security agencies is necessary to maintain stability.
Afeni said, “Although the Idiroko axis is currently experiencing relative calm, sustaining the stability requires continuous intelligence collaboration and joint operations among security agencies.”
He stressed that protecting Nigeria’s borders and economic interests is a shared responsibility.
Afeni added, “Safeguarding the nation’s borders and protecting the economy is a shared responsibility,” urging officers of both agencies to work together toward a common goal.
He also noted that the renewed cooperation aligns with the policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
According to him, the agenda prioritises collaboration, consolidation, and innovation in tackling economic crimes and improving border management.
Police pledge support for anti-smuggling operations
The Police Area Commander in Idiroko, ACP Adejumo Segun, said the command was committed to strengthening its relationship with the Customs Service.
Segun said the partnership would focus on protecting residents in border communities while supporting Customs officers in the fight against illicit trade.
He explained that intelligence sharing between both agencies would also help disrupt criminal networks operating along the Idiroko–Igolo border corridor.
Industry and security perspective
Security analysts say stronger collaboration between border agencies could significantly reduce smuggling activities that undermine Nigeria’s economy.
Experts also note that joint intelligence operations often improve response time and make it harder for criminal networks to exploit gaps between enforcement agencies.
Border residents have previously raised concerns about illegal trade and insecurity along the corridor, making coordinated patrols crucial for safety and economic stability.
What’s next
Both the Customs Service and the Police say they will continue to strengthen operational synergy through joint patrols, intelligence exchanges, and coordinated enforcement actions.
Authorities believe the renewed partnership will create a safer environment for residents of border communities in Ogun State while protecting Nigeria’s economic interests.
The Ogun 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service says it has intercepted more than 7,000 parcels of cannabis along Nigeria’s south-western border.
The acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller OO Afeni, said the seizures were made within weeks of his assumption of office in December.
He spoke during a courtesy visit by the Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) at the command headquarters on 19 February.
Why it matters
Ogun State shares a porous border with neighbouring countries, making it a hotspot for smuggling.
The Customs Service believes tighter enforcement could reduce the flow of narcotics and protect local industries from unfair competition.
According to Comptroller Afeni, “over seven thousand (7,000) parcels of cannabis were intercepted and handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while over six thousand (6,000) parcels are yet to be handed over.”
The drugs were transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Customs vows tougher action
Comptroller Afeni assured that smugglers operating within the Ogun 1 axis would face sustained pressure.
He called for stronger collaboration between Customs and the media, describing journalists as “dependable allies” and urging “genuine and verifiable reporting.”
He also stressed that the command was open to constructive criticism.
The controller noted that intelligence gathering had been scaled up across vulnerable border points.
He acknowledged that there were “skirmishes” in some communities in January but maintained that operations continued despite the challenges.
Community outreach and CSR
Beyond enforcement, the command says it has continued its corporate social responsibility programmes.
These include providing educational and healthcare support to border communities.
Customs officials argue that improving community relations helps intelligence gathering and reduces hostility toward officers.
Industry and public reaction
The President of CONMMEP, Comrade Udo Onyeka, expressed confidence in Afeni’s leadership.
He said he believed the controller and his team would “subdue economic saboteurs within the axis and bring them to book.”
Former CONMMEP President, Alhaji Tunde Umar-Daniah, described Afeni as “a seasoned officer whose administrative ability and professionalism were not in doubt.”
What’s next?
Customs says additional parcels of seized cannabis, more than 6,000 are awaiting formal handover to the NDLEA.
The command has pledged a “relentless onslaught” against smugglers in the coming months.
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