The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has inaugurated a World Customs Organisation (WCO) Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Mentoring Mission to strengthen its capacity to detect and disrupt illicit financial flows.
The four-week mission, inaugurated on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, is themed “Strengthening Nigeria Customs Service Capabilities to Effectively Detect and Disrupt Illicit Financial Flows.”
Funded by the United States Department of State, the mission will run from October 19 to November 13, 2026.
It will feature visits to selected Customs formations in Lagos and key partner agencies, alongside capacity-building programmes for officers in Lagos and Abuja.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, emphasised the importance of coordinated inter-agency efforts in combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
He recalled the reforms undertaken by government agencies that contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2025, stressing the need to sustain the gains through stronger institutional collaboration.
According to Adeniyi, progress made by one agency must be matched by corresponding improvements across other institutions involved in combating financial crimes.
He expressed confidence in the commitment of NCS officers to the mentoring exercise, noting that their expertise and willingness to learn would contribute to its success.
“Competent officers who have passion for the job will give you all the cooperation to ensure we learn from other Customs administrations regarding what we are doing and how we can do better,” he said.
Earlier, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Strategic Research and Policy, Nafiu Isiaku, introduced the WCO delegation, comprising Jorge Lasmar, Lisa Vallese and Laurent Szymkowiak.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Lasmar explained that the mission was designed to improve the Service’s operational capacity and effectiveness in addressing illicit financial flows.
He clarified that the engagement was not an assessment of the NCS but a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening its existing capabilities.
“The mission is not an assessment of Customs operations, but an engagement aimed at further strengthening the capacity of the Nigeria Customs Service,” Lasmar said.
He thanked the NCS management and the Comptroller-General for their guidance and cooperation, assuring that the team would submit a comprehensive report at the conclusion of the mission.
The mentoring programme is expected to enhance officers’ expertise, strengthen collaboration with relevant agencies and improve the Service’s ability to identify and disrupt illicit financial flows associated with money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
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