The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has reiterated that all air travellers carrying cash exceeding $10,000 must declare it at international airports during check-in.
The directive follows a series of joint intelligence operations that uncovered suspicious cash movements, including one case involving over $6 million at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
The clarification came through a statement by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announcing its partnership with the NFIU and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts.
Speaking at a two-day capacity-building workshop in Lagos, Maryesther Eworitse, Deputy General Manager, Currency Operations Department, MMIA, said the NFIU had installed currency declaration kiosks at international terminals to facilitate compliance and enhance public awareness.
“Travellers are reminded that the declaration of cash above $10,000 is mandatory,”
— Eworitse stated.
The Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Zone A, Mohammed Babandede, representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in combating illicit financial activities.
He said the initiative underscores the Customs Service’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders against money laundering and terrorism financing, adding that officers from airports and land borders were deliberately selected for the training to improve vigilance and enforcement.
Similarly, Shehu Muhammad, Head of Investigations, EFCC Lagos Zonal Office, emphasised that effective synergy among security agencies was vital to dismantling sophisticated financial crime networks.
“The Customs Service leads the currency declaration process, while the EFCC handles investigations and prosecutions. Strengthening inter-agency cooperation will make enforcement more effective,”
— Muhammad noted.
The workshop, jointly organised by the NFIU and NCS, focused on improving institutional coordination, compliance with financial regulations, and Nigeria’s capacity to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and other cross-border financial crimes.
