ZAINAB JUNAID
As part of effort to strengthen Nigeria’s financial integrity and curtail money laundering activities, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with other law enforcement and regulatory agencies, have engaged international airlines operating at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Saturday, 5 July 2025.
The sensitisation programme aimed to raise awareness on the importance of enforcing Nigeria’s currency declaration laws among inbound and outbound travellers.
It addressed the role of airline personnel in ensuring compliance, particularly in reminding passengers about declaration requirements through in-flight announcements, form distribution, and cooperation during customs checks.
Speaking during the session, Assistant Comptroller of Customs in charge of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Unit, Salihu Mas’ud, who led the engagement, expressed confidence in the outcomes and informed that the Service has already implemented several operational tools to support effective enforcement of the law.
He said, “What we have achieved so far is to be able to sensitise them. We’ve gone round to check all the points. We have dedicated search rooms for secondary searches. There are dedicated posts for currency declarations, and they are in place. Announcements are also being made on the Public Address System. We have also gotten the commitment of the airline operators to ensure that these announcements are also being made on board their flights”.
“We expect higher compliance, and it will strengthen our enforcement mechanism. It also ensures that defaulters and violators of currency declarations are detected promptly and forwarded for necessary investigation and prosecution,” he added.
Officials at the sensitisation programme emphasised that any passenger carrying more than the regulatory threshold, which currently stood at $10,000 or its equivalent, is required to make a declaration to the authorities.
“Failure to comply, could result in seizure, investigation, and prosecution under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws,” they warned.
Other issues discussed include: the mandatory submission of electronic manifests (e-Manifests) before aircraft arrival, as well as complete passenger details such as names, countries of origin and destination, and flight numbers, stating that these records allow customs and security officers to conduct targeted risk assessments and enhance border surveillance operations.
The sensitisation session also highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in securing Nigeria’s borders and preventing illicit financial flows.
However, with growing concerns over terrorism, financing and smuggling of undeclared funds, the Nigeria Customs Service noted that sustained partnerships with airline operators, airport authorities, and intelligence agencies will remain key to its success.
