President Bola Tinubu has revealed that his administration has successfully prosecuted and convicted more than 100 individuals involved in financing terrorism over the past two years.
The president made the announcement on Tuesday at the opening of the 2025 National Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Financing of Terrorism, and Proliferation Summit in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Tinubu, represented by George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), emphasized the government’s focused efforts on cutting off the financial resources that sustain terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP in Nigeria. According to the president, these financial measures are crucial to dismantling the capacity of these groups to carry out attacks on communities and citizens.
“We have made significant strides in confronting the threats of terrorism and other violent crimes, thanks to the determined efforts of our security forces and frontline troops,” Tinubu said. “In line with the national counter-terrorism financing strategy, we have also bolstered our ability to identify and target individuals who fund these violent actions.”
Tinubu acknowledged the efforts of the National Security Adviser’s office and the Attorney General of the Federation in prosecuting and securing convictions of over 100 terrorist financiers. By disrupting the financial networks of these groups, the administration aims to reduce their operational capacity and deny them the resources needed to perpetuate terror in the country.
The president also commended the critical role played by the private sector in safeguarding the nation’s financial and economic resources, specifically pointing out the responsibility of professionals such as lawyers and accountants. These individuals, he said, serve as the first line of defense in ensuring that the nation’s resources are protected from exploitation by criminal elements.
Addressing Nigeria’s recent greylisting by international financial bodies in February 2023, Tinubu expressed concern over the serious economic and reputational consequences of this designation. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing an action plan to address deficiencies in Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework and to restore the country’s standing in the international financial community.
“We are fully committed to reforming our anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks to ensure that Nigeria continues to play a responsible role in the global fight against terrorism and financial crimes,” Tinubu concluded.
