President Bola Tinubu has instructed security and law enforcement agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to ramp up efforts to combat the possession and trafficking of stolen vehicles.
In a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to collaborating with international partners to disrupt cyber criminals and organized crime groups involved in transnational car thefts. He highlighted that one of the most effective strategies for law enforcement is to deprive criminals of the proceeds from their illegal activities.
President Tinubu noted the recent handover of 53 vehicles and $180,300 by the EFCC to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on behalf of two Canadian victims of cybercrime perpetrated by Nigerian nationals.
He expressed concern over the role of transnational organized crime in exporting stolen vehicles to Nigeria and commended the EFCC for its collaborative efforts in addressing this issue.
The president also directed all relevant agencies, particularly anti-corruption bodies, to safeguard Nigeria’s economic and financial integrity from organized crime infiltration. He called for the preservation of the value of seized and confiscated movable assets for the benefit of the state, society, and victims, in line with existing legislation and international conventions.
Emphasizing Nigeria’s stance, the president stated, “Nigeria is not a destination for stolen vehicles or a haven for illicit wealth from foreign countries,” reaffirming his administration’s commitment to tackling money laundering, cybercrime, and other financial crimes.
