The Nigeria Customs Service has stepped up its campaign against illicit financial flows and terrorism financing, rolling out a renewed sensitisation programme aimed at equipping officers with the skills to detect and block increasingly sophisticated financial crimes.
The engagement, held on Monday, formed part of the Service’s first-quarter operational review meeting and training for officers of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Unit, focusing on enhancing capacity, promoting ethical standards and strengthening inter-agency collaboration.
Speaking at the session, the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shuaibu, said the initiative reflects the rising importance of AML/CFT operations within both the Service and Nigeria’s wider financial and security architecture. He explained that the Unit’s work now extends far beyond traditional checkpoints such as seaports, airports and land borders, noting that its recent strides have helped position it as a vital safeguard of the nation’s financial system.
In a broader reflection on progress within Nigeria’s financial space, Shuaibu pointed to the growing global acceptance of Nigerian-issued bank cards, which now support seamless international transactions with automatic currency conversion. He described the development as a meaningful step forward for the country’s economic integration.
“This is a major milestone. Nigerians can now travel and use their cards anywhere in the world, with transactions reflecting the local currency,” he said. Shuaibu also encouraged officers to regard postings to the AML/CFT Unit as opportunities for professional advancement, rather than as disciplinary measures, while reaffirming the Service’s collaboration with the World Customs Organization to align with global best practices.
Also addressing participants, the Acting Provost Marshal and Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Saulawa Sunusi, emphasised the central role of integrity, discipline and professionalism in effective service delivery. “Integrity remains the foundation of everything we do,” he said, urging officers to uphold high standards of conduct, lead by example and commit to continuous learning.