Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, has underscored the critical role of financial intelligence in combating organised crime, calling for stronger coordination, intelligence sharing and collective action to tackle the growing threat posed by criminal networks across Nigeria.
Bakari made the call on Friday in Abuja during the Validation Exercise of the National Strategy on Combating Organised Crime in Nigeria, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The high-level engagement brought together representatives of government institutions, security and law enforcement agencies, development partners, and international organisations to review and validate a comprehensive national strategy aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to organised crime.
Speaking at the event, the NFIU CEO stressed that financial intelligence has become one of Nigeria’s most effective tools for disrupting criminal enterprises involved in terrorism financing, cybercrime, human trafficking, kidnapping, corruption, illegal mining and other forms of organised crime.
She explained that intelligence generated through financial transactions plays a crucial role in tracing illicit financial flows, identifying criminal facilitators, and providing actionable intelligence that supports law enforcement investigations and prosecutions.
Bakari also highlighted the activities of the NFIU’s Serious Organised Crimes Department, established in 2024, noting that the specialised unit was created to enhance intelligence-led responses to organised criminal activities and strengthen collaboration with relevant security agencies.
Other speakers at the validation exercise, including representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), emphasised the need for stronger inter-agency cooperation, timely intelligence sharing and sustained international collaboration to effectively address the evolving threats posed by organised crime.
The stakeholders agreed that confronting organised criminal networks requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach built on effective coordination, institutional cooperation, and evidence-based policymaking.
The validation exercise concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to developing and implementing a coordinated national strategy that will strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, improve governance, and enhance the country’s economic resilience against organised crime.
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