The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) have intensified their collaboration to trace illicit financial flows, disrupt organised criminal networks and strengthen Nigeria’s fight against money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial crimes ahead of the country’s 2027 Mutual Evaluation.
The renewed commitment was made in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the chief executive officer of the NFIU, Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, to the inspector-general of police, Kayode Olatunji Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the inspector-general of police described financial intelligence as an indispensable component of modern policing, saying the evolving nature of financial crimes requires stronger cooperation between security agencies.
He said tracing the movement of illicit funds has become vital to investigations involving terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, fraud and other organised crimes, noting that following financial transactions often leads investigators to criminal masterminds.
Disu assured the NFIU of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of officers in financial investigations and sustaining close collaboration to improve Nigeria’s response to money laundering, terrorism financing and organised crime.
Speaking earlier, Bakari described the visit as a strategic engagement aimed at deepening cooperation between both agencies in tackling crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping, cybercrime, corruption, human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal mining and arms trafficking through enhanced financial intelligence.
She noted that financial intelligence has become a critical tool in exposing criminal networks by tracing illicit funds, identifying key actors and dismantling the financial structures that sustain organised crime.
According to her, effective collaboration between the NFIU and the police would ensure that criminals are not only apprehended but also stripped of the financial resources used to fund their operations.
Bakari commended the Nigeria Police for its contribution to Nigeria’s successful implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan, which culminated in the country’s removal from the FATF grey list.
She, however, said attention was now shifting to Nigeria’s third round Mutual Evaluation scheduled for 2027, where the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework will be assessed based on the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies rather than the existence of laws alone.
“The evaluation will examine how financial intelligence is being used in investigations, prosecutions, asset recovery and the disruption of criminal enterprises,” she said.
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