By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Riliwan Disu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing and other complex financial crimes.
The commitment was made on Tuesday when the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hajia Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, led a high-powered delegation on a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The visit centred on deepening operational synergy, enhancing information-sharing mechanisms and institutionalising strategic cooperation between the Nigeria Police Force and the NFIU ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Mutual Evaluation on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.
Bakari, who described the partnership between both institutions as critical to Nigeria’s national security framework, noted that the forthcoming international assessment would examine how effectively the Police utilise financial intelligence generated by the NFIU to investigate money laundering, disrupt terrorism financing networks and secure convictions in financial crime cases.
She commended the Inspector-General for approving a joint stock-taking exercise between the two agencies, describing the initiative as a major step towards improving operational efficiency.
The NFIU boss also advocated stronger institutional collaboration, urging the Police to extend Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) awareness programmes to commands and formations across the country. According to her, Nigeria must move beyond isolated operational successes and build sustainable institutional capacity capable of meeting global standards.
Bakari further expressed condolences to the Nigeria Police Force over officers who recently lost their lives in the line of duty and reaffirmed the NFIU’s commitment to supporting the Force in achieving its security mandate.
Responding, IGP Disu praised the NFIU delegation and called for a more robust and mutually beneficial partnership between both institutions.
He underscored the importance of the Police Force’s specialised Anti-Money Laundering Unit and other operational divisions in tackling financial crimes, terrorism financing, banditry and other transnational criminal activities.
Describing anti-money laundering investigations as highly specialised, the police chief appealed to the NFIU to sustain advanced capacity-building programmes for specialised police personnel. He also sought continued access to actionable financial intelligence and modern investigative tools to enhance investigations and improve prosecution and conviction rates.
The visit concluded with both agencies reaffirming their commitment to closer cooperation aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s anti-financial crime framework, enhancing operational effectiveness and reinforcing public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
