Alex Enumah and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
The Nigerian Authorities yesterday referred to as on member states of the Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS) to forge a standard entrance within the combat towards terrorism financing within the subregion.
This was at the same time as the federal government hinted that the specter of terrorism stays a urgent concern for nations throughout the globe.
The federal government, by the Director/CEO of the Nigerian Monetary Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat A. Bakari, made the decision on the opening of Coaching of Trainers (ToT) workshop on ‘Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) for ECOWAS Anglophone Member States underneath the ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Motion Plan’ in Abuja.
Hafsat, in her opening remarks on the occasion, burdened that the insidious nature of terrorism not solely threatens the lives of harmless folks but additionally undermines the very material of the societies and economies.
This, in accordance with her, was one of many key pillars within the nation’s collective combat towards terrorism and countering the financing that sustains these nefarious actions.
She stated blocking the channels, routes and methods used to maneuver these funds throughout the nations and throughout the borders requires cooperation not simply at a nationwide degree however at a regional degree.
“This may solely be achieved by a correct understanding and utility of the position of the navy, intelligence companies, legislation enforcement businesses, prosecutors and the judiciary on this collective endeavour.”
In line with her, “The coaching, which is able to equip stakeholders with the data, expertise, and techniques essential to fight the financing of terrorism successfully, is a step in the fitting path.
“This ToT serves as a pivotal platform for us to boost our understanding of the evolving techniques employed by terrorist organisations to fund their operations.
“By collaborative efforts and the trade of greatest practices, we purpose to strengthen our capability to detect, disrupt, and dismantle the monetary networks that allow terrorism to thrive.”
Talking additional, she added that the coaching displays the multi-agency strategy championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and encapsulated within the Nationwide Counter-Terrorism Technique and the Nationwide Counter-Terrorism Financing Technique.
Hafsat, nonetheless, expressed satisfaction with the extent of Nigeria’s participation within the coaching,
Equally, the Director-Normal, GIABA, Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr, hinted that cash laundering and the financing of terrorism proceed to adversely impression the socio-economic improvement, peace, and safety of ECOWAS member states and past.
He famous that within the final decade, the ECOWAS group has skilled an rising degree of terrorism, radicalisation, and violent extremism at an alarming charge.
Harris additional stated GIABA’s strategy to supporting nations of their combat towards the financing of terrorism is to convey their prevention and enforcement techniques in keeping with worldwide requirements, significantly these of the Monetary Motion Activity Drive (FATF).
He stated: “In follow, this implies offering nations with acceptable authorized and institutional frameworks and constructing their capability to implement these frameworks successfully.”
On his half, the Director-Normal, Division of State Providers (DSS), Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, stated countering the financing of terrorism is a collective duty that calls for worldwide cooperation and collaboration.
Bichi, represented by the Director of Coaching and Workers Growth, DSS, Mrs. Bolatito Certain-Olufe, defined that terrorist financing networks typically span a number of jurisdictions, exploiting vulnerabilities in monetary techniques and regulatory gaps.
Bichi famous that the train-the-trainer workshop represents a vital step in enhancing “our collective capability to establish, hint, and disrupt illicit monetary flows that maintain terrorist organisations.”
“By strengthening our potential to observe the cash path, we are able to deprive these teams of the sources they should perform their heinous acts, in the end contributing to a safer and peaceable world for all.”
The workshop, which is able to final for 2 weeks, drew contributors from the English talking nations of ECOWAS.
