The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, says Nigeria’s strengthened efforts to combat terrorism financing have led to the successful prosecution of more than 730 terrorism-related cases.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja during the On-Site Meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) strategic simulation exercise, Laka noted that over 90 of those cases were supported directly by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
He commended the collaboration between NFIU and other security and intelligence agencies, stating that their joint efforts had significantly disrupted the financial flows sustaining terrorist groups in and outside Nigeria.
“Disrupting the financial lifelines of terrorist organizations is central to our national counterterrorism strategy. We remain firmly committed to this cause and deeply value our ongoing partnership with both domestic and international stakeholders, including the U.S. Department of Treasury,” Laka said.
He also praised the work of the Joint Standard Investigation Committee on Terrorism Financing, which he said had been instrumental in improving Nigeria’s ability to track, investigate, and prosecute complex financial crimes.
Laka stressed that the simulation exercise was a critical opportunity to test the nation’s preparedness for the FATF assessment and enhance coordination across agencies in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
“This mock exercise is not just a routine formality. It is a critical simulation to test the robustness of our institutional response and harmonize strategies before the FATF assessment,” he stated.
He urged all participating stakeholders to take full ownership of the national effort and ensure thorough and honest evaluations during the review process.
“The strength of our collective preparation will determine the success of the upcoming FATF visit and, ultimately, Nigeria’s removal from the FATF Grey List,” he added.
Laka also highlighted progress Nigeria had made under the FATF International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) Action Plan, particularly in areas of technical compliance and inter-agency collaboration.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hajiya Hafsat Bakari, said Nigeria had made substantial strides toward completing all 19 action items in its FATF action plan.
She noted that the on-site simulation provided a platform to demonstrate the country’s progress and commitment to strengthening its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.
Bakari revealed that 11 FATF reviewers would be visiting Nigeria to cover all the immediate outcomes of the action plan. She described the high-level interest in the review as a sign of growing international confidence in Nigeria.
“While this does not mean we are yet a full member, Nigeria has been invited to join the FATF as a guest member. This is a step forward in our journey toward full membership and having a voice at the global table,” she said.
