By Taiwo Scholarstica
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Ms. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, has called for stronger intelligence-driven collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies to tackle fraud, money laundering, illicit financing and other organised financial crimes.
Bakari made the call in Abuja during the induction of 100 newly trained Anti-Fraud Officers organised by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
She observed that the increasing use of technology, digital payment platforms and virtual assets by criminal networks has made financial crimes more sophisticated, requiring greater cooperation among relevant agencies.
“As criminals increasingly exploit technology, digital payments and virtual assets, no single agency can tackle these threats alone.”
The NFIU chief stressed the need for timely intelligence sharing, coordinated operations and regular capacity-building programmes to strengthen the country’s response to evolving financial crimes.
She also reaffirmed the NFIU’s commitment to supporting the NSCDC through the provision of financial intelligence, joint training programmes and closer operational collaboration aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s financial system.
According to the agency, strengthening partnerships between security institutions remains critical to improving the detection, investigation and prosecution of financial crimes while enhancing national security. The induction of the anti-fraud officers is expected to boost the NSCDC’s capacity to combat economic and financial crimes across the country.