The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Bakari, says Nigeria is recording major achievements in the fight against terrorism financing and organised crime through improved financial intelligence and stronger cooperation among relevant agencies.
Bakari stated this on Friday in Abuja during the validation of Nigeria’s first National Organised Crime Strategy Document. She noted that the country had moved beyond complying with global requirements and was now focused on delivering concrete results in the fight against criminal activities.
She explained that crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime, kidnapping, human trafficking and illegal mining are largely sustained through unlawful financial networks. According to her, following the money trail remains a key method for uncovering criminal groups, identifying their supporters and preventing future attacks.
The NFIU boss revealed that the agency created an Organised Crime Department in 2024 to monitor illicit financial movements within Nigeria and internationally. She added that intelligence from the department has assisted investigations by security and anti-graft agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), alongside financial intelligence units in 186 countries.
“Our response must be more organised than the criminals we are confronting,” Bakari said, stressing that combating organised crime requires joint efforts from government agencies, regulators, financial institutions and global partners.
Also speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC), Sa’ad Abubakar, said organised crime has become more complex due to the connections between cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and illegal financial activities.
Abubakar said the proposed National Organised Crime Strategy adopts a comprehensive approach involving prevention, prosecution, protection and partnerships. He disclosed that 13 government agencies contributed to developing the strategy, which outlines responsibilities and performance measures for effective implementation.
He added that the document would be presented to the National Security Adviser and later forwarded to the Presidency after the validation process. The exercise was attended by representatives of security agencies, civil society groups, development organisations and international partners.