‘Nigeria inches closer to exiting global anti-graft grey list’

• Issa-Onilu lists govt agencies’ achievements at security briefing

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has said Nigeria is making the final push towards exiting the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force.

Issa-Onilu spoke yesterday at a joint security briefing alongside representatives of the security and paramilitary agencies in Abuja.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. It sets international standards that aim to prevent illegal activities and the harm they cause to society. Nigeria is on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies and grey-listed in February 2023.

This followed identified strategic deficiencies in its framework for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of weapons proliferation, particularly amidst increased capital flows and economic diversification.

Addressing reporters, Issa-Onilu said: “Nigeria progresses towards exiting the Financial Action Task Force grey list.”

The NOA boss noted that the country was invited to the FATF consultative forum as a sign of its improvement on all the indices.

He announced that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) recovered N21 billion and $1 million, as well as engaged over 209,000 citizens through 352 anti-corruption events. Issa-Onilu said the administration recorded significant achievements in addressing security challenges, which he said are germane to the development and prosperity of the citizens.

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The NOA boss said the police, in 326 operations, arrested over 2,109 suspects, rescued 175 kidnap victims, and neutralised 78 terrorists in the last few months.  He said the achievement was recorded under the nationwide objectives of disrupting criminal networks, safeguarding lives, and upholding public order.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), according to him, continued its aggressive crackdown on drug trafficking, conducting 1,572 raids and seizing 2.9 million kilograms of narcotics, including 520 kg of tramadol and 7.35 kg of methamphetamine.

The NOA boss emphasised that drugs and illegal arms remain the oxygen of criminality.

Issa-Onilu also said the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) successfully resolved 720 community conflicts, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported 2,838 road fatalities.

The security agencies, he added, recovered 12 AK-47 rifles, two GPMGs, and over 2,200 rounds of ammunition.

NAFDAC also seized 10 containers of tramadol and five containers of expired tomato paste, further tightening the net on harmful imports.

Efforts to contain human trafficking, Issa-Onilu said, have led to the rescue of 82 victims of human trafficking and the repatriation of 495 persons.

The Nigeria Immigration Service issued 3,786 e-visas, facilitated the return of 214 Nigerians from the Niger Republic, and received 110 deportees from Saudi Arabia for visa violations.

“Our borders are no longer gateways to crime; they are now barriers to exploitation and trafficking,” Issa-Onilu affirmed.

The NSCDC dismantled 12 illegal refineries, 3 illegal mining gangs, and seven oil theft trucks, while the Nigerian Navy recovered petroleum products worth N752.2 million.

Also, the Federal Fire Service reported saving N319.5 billion in assets during fire disasters and improved emergency response times by 33 per cent.

“Every drop of stolen oil, every illegal refinery, and every tampered railway track is an attack on our economy,” said the NOA boss. We must defend our infrastructure as we defend our homes,” he said.

Issa-Onilu said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provided relief to 42 rescued Boko Haram captives and supported flood victims across 15 states.

The NOA, he also said, countered misinformation with 87 government press advisories.

“From the Northeast to the Niger Delta, our security forces are reclaiming the peace, one operation at a time. Nigeria is fighting back—decisively and collaboratively,” he added.

The Federal Government urged Nigerians to report threats and suspicious activities, reject drugs and arms trafficking, avoid irregular migration and follow legal channels, protect critical infrastructure, join civic education and anti-corruption campaigns, and support reintegration of rehabilitated offenders.

The DG NOA emphasized that security is a collective duty. “Fellow Nigerians, today we reaffirm that national security is our shared duty. Our gallant men and women in uniforms are recording real, measurable gains.

“But security does not start on the battlefield; it begins in our homes, our values, our truthfulness, and our resolve. Let us protect what is ours, stand with our institutions, and unite behind the cause of a peaceful, progressive Nigeria,” Issa-Onilu added.