The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has cautioned Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) across Nigeria to guard against infiltration by terrorist networks seeking to exploit the sector for financing terrorism.
Olukoyede issued the warning in Abuja on Tuesday during the launch of the National Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment (NTFRA) for NPOs. The initiative is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to terrorist financing and safeguarding the integrity of the non-profit sector.
Represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Michael Nzekwe, the EFCC chairman acknowledged the critical contributions of NPOs to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, noting that they play key roles in humanitarian support, healthcare delivery, education, and assistance to vulnerable communities.
However, he stressed that the sector remains vulnerable to abuse if proper safeguards are not in place.
“It is crucial to protect the integrity of this significant sector, not only to ensure national security but also to maintain public trust and confidence in the legitimate activities of charitable organisations,” Olukoyede said.
He added that the NTFRA would provide an evidence-based understanding of the scale and drivers of terrorist financing risks within the NPO sector and guide the development of appropriate regulatory and supervisory measures.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, commended the EFCC and the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) for bringing civil society organisations together to strengthen the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
Bagudu noted that collaboration between government institutions and civil society was essential to improving financial transparency and tackling economic crimes in the country.
Also speaking, the Director of SCUML, Harry Erin, emphasized the importance of the assessment in reviewing changes in the terrorism financing risk profile of the NPO sector since the last evaluation in 2023. He added that the process would help refine Nigeria’s risk-based regulatory framework in line with current realities and international standards.
Representing international NGOs, Ndubisi Emeka Anyanwu, Director of the Nigeria Forum for International Non-Governmental Organisations, praised the initiative and reaffirmed the commitment of civil society groups to collaborate with regulators in strengthening financial accountability and preventing misuse of the sector.