The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), reiterated the need for strict compliance with laws governing cross-border currency movement during a sensitisation meeting held on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at Tahir Hotel, in Kano state.
Speaking at the event, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Kano/Jigawa Command, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, emphasised the importance of public awareness and inter-agency cooperation in curbing illegal cash transactions and ensuring national economic security.
Comptroller Abubakar revealed that the Service had recorded significant interceptions of undeclared currencies at various entry and exit points, including in Lagos and Kano, attributing most cases to ignorance of the law rather than deliberate evasion.
“The laws require you to declare the amount of money you’re carrying across borders. With proper declaration, no issues should arise,” he stated. He stressed that compliance with currency declaration regulations is crucial for individual travellers and the broader fight against illicit financial flows and corruption.
Highlighting the Service’s commitment to innovation and collaboration, Comptroller Abubakar noted that the Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in strengthening partnerships with other law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to foster a corruption-free environment.
The sensitisation programme, organised jointly by ICPC, EFCC, and NCS, aimed to acquaint stakeholders with the relevant legal provisions on currency movement, thereby enhancing compliance and protecting Nigeria’s financial integrity.
Earlier, the ICPC Resident Commissioner in Kano, Ahmed Wada, clarified that the initiative was not a witch-hunt but an educational campaign to promote adherence to extant laws. At the same time, the EFCC Kano Zonal Commander, Ibrahim Shazali, warned against illegal cash transactions both within and outside Nigeria.
Also speaking, Sani Dada, chairman of the Bureau De Change Operators Association in Kano State, lauded the programme as timely and necessary, acknowledging that several cases of currency confiscation resulted from a lack of awareness.
