FG Moves to Strengthen Police Efforts Against Insecurity Through Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Unit – Minister Gaidam
Abuja, Nigeria – June 20, 2025
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to tackling insecurity through strategic reforms in policing, including a renewed focus on financial crimes. The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has affirmed that the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) newly established Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Section will significantly enhance the fight against insecurity across the country.
Senator Gaidam made this known during a capacity-building workshop on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing for frontline officers and prosecutors, held at the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan International Peacekeeping Center, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Represented by the Director of Police Services at the Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed, the Minister emphasized that the workshop offers a crucial platform for officers to acquire practical skills and share expertise in combating the twin challenges of money laundering and terrorism financing, which he described as “bedbugs” to national stability.
“The frontline officers and prosecutors trained through this workshop will be pivotal in disrupting financial crime and terrorism financing networks,” the Minister said. “As the Minister of Police Affairs, I assure the Inspector-General of Police and all officers that the Ministry will continue to support initiatives that bolster our national security and justice systems.”
Gaidam also charged the new AML/CFT Section of the NPF to leverage vital data resources such as the Crime and Incidence Database, the forthcoming Criminal Data Fusion Center, and the West African Police Information System database housed at the Force Headquarters. He noted that utilizing these tools would significantly improve operational outcomes in investigating and prosecuting financial crimes.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police for establishing the specialized section, noting that money laundering and terrorism financing are major threats to national security. “These illicit activities undermine financial systems, empower organized crime, and fund acts of terror. If not curbed, they can destabilize economies, erode public trust, and promote violence and lawlessness,” he warned.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) urged officers not to abuse their investigative powers, particularly in civil matters such as land disputes. He warned that the Commission would not hesitate to discipline any erring officer in accordance with the law. He also encouraged officers to adopt international best practices, emphasizing the importance of facts, truth, and commitment in prosecution.
Also speaking, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Training and Development, DIG Frank Mba, stated that Nigeria continues to confront the dual threats of money laundering and terrorism financing—crimes that erode economic resilience and damage the country's global reputation.
DIG Mba acknowledged the federal government’s efforts in tackling financial crimes through the creation of institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
“These agencies form the backbone of Nigeria’s institutional framework in the fight against financial crimes and terrorism,” he said.
The workshop marks a significant step in enhancing the capacity of police personnel to respond to emerging security threats with a more holistic, intelligence-led, and financially informed approach.
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