Nigeria has convened a regional workshop in Abuja aimed at boosting Africa’s capacity to combat money laundering and other transnational financial crimes, as authorities warn of increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
The four-day training, which began on Tuesday, is being organised by the Nigeria Police Force through its INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), in collaboration with INTERPOL and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The workshop focuses on strengthening coordination among law enforcement agencies to tackle money laundering, terrorist financing, cyber-enabled fraud, cryptocurrency-related crimes, and illicit financial flows across the continent.
Rising complexity of financial crimes
Speaking at the opening session, Commissioner of Police in charge of INTERPOL NCB Abuja, Ajo Godfrey Ordue, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, stressed that financial crimes are becoming more complex and harder to track.
“In today’s interconnected world, transnational financial crimes, particularly those facilitated through cyberspace and digital assets, have grown in sophistication, scale, and impact,” he said.
He warned that criminal groups are increasingly exploiting new technologies and cross-border gaps, making collaboration between countries essential.
Focus on practical skills and cooperation
Organizers said the training is designed to go beyond theory, equipping participants with hands-on skills in financial intelligence, cyber investigations, and asset recovery.
Kiyotaka Sekine of INTERPOL’s Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Centre noted that the programme aims to improve the ability of investigators to trace illicit funds and strengthen international cooperation.
Participants are also being introduced to specialized INTERPOL tools, including systems for tracking and recovering stolen assets across borders.
JICA’s senior representative, Yamamoto Tetsuya, highlighted the importance of joint efforts, noting that no single country or institution can effectively tackle financial crime alone.
Multi-agency approach
Officials say the initiative reinforces Nigeria’s ongoing collaboration among key agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Dr. Muhammad Jiya of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit described the workshop as a step toward integrating financial intelligence with global enforcement systems.
“The fight cannot be won in isolation,” he said. “It requires coordinated action and shared intelligence.”
The workshop has drawn investigators, prosecutors, policymakers, and financial crime experts from across Africa, reflecting a growing regional push to adapt to evolving threats and strengthen collective responses to financial crime.
