The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has insisted that air travellers at international airports in the country must declare cash above $10,000 at the point of checking into aircraft as part of anti-graft inter agencies’ sustained efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing across the nation’s borders.
Based on the latest order, any air passenger carrying over the regulatory threshold, currently $10,000 or its equivalent, is mandated to make a declaration to the authorities and failure by any traveller to comply could result in seizure, investigation, and prosecution under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
A statement issued by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), confirmed that the latest requirement was disclosed by the Deputy General Manager, Currency Operations Department of NFIU, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Maryesther Eworitse, at a two-day capacity-building workshop in Lagos.
Representing the NFIU at the forum, Eworitse, commended the NCS for fostering strong institutional collaboration. She disclosed that joint intelligence operations had recently uncovered suspicious cash movements, including a case involving over $6 million at the Lagos airport.
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She said: ‘’The NFIU has installed currency declaration kiosks at international terminals and intensified public sensitisation to remind travellers of the mandatory declaration of cash above $10,000.’’
In his remarks at the forum, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Zone A, Mohammed Babandede, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the collaboration with NFIU underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in combating money laundering and terrorism financing.
Babandede maintained that inter-agency collaboration remained a key focus of the Comptroller-General’s administration, noting that such partnerships have contributed significantly to national security efforts.
According to him, participants at the forum are drawn from the NCS, EFCC, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), and NFIU, reflecting a joint commitment to combating financial crimes.
He clarified: “The selection of participants was deliberate, focusing on officers from airports and land borders where the movement of cash and human traffic is high. The training will enable participants to exchange ideas and develop actionable outcomes.’’
The NCS’ Assistant Comptroller-General reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders against illicit financial flows and charged the participants to apply the knowledge gained to enhance vigilance and compliance in their respective commands.
Also, the EFCC Head of Investigations, Lagos Zonal office, Shehu Muhammad, described inter-agencies’ collaboration in the fight against money laundering as the crucial in dismantling sophisticated financial crime networks.
Muhammad maintained: ‘’The Nigeria Customs Service plays a lead role in the currency declaration regime, while the EFCC handles investigations and prosecutions. Strengthening inter-agency synergy will improve our effectiveness.”
It would be recalled that in July this year, the Service had, in collaboration with other law enforcement and regulatory agencies, organised a sensitisation programme for international airline operators at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as part of its sustained efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-money laundering mechanisms.
