NFIU insists air travellers should declare money above $10,000 at worldwide airports

The Nigerian Monetary Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has insisted that it’s necessary for air travellers at worldwide airports to declare money above $10,000 on the level of checking into plane.

In keeping with an announcement by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), this was made recognized by the Deputy Common Supervisor, Forex Operations Division of NFIU, Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport (MMIA), Maryesther Eworitse, at a two-day capacity-building workshop in Lagos.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on the occasion, said that it has partnered with the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) and the NFIU to bolster Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework.

Suspicious money actions on the airport

Representing the NFIU, Eworitse, counseled the NCS for fostering sturdy institutional collaboration. She disclosed that joint intelligence operations had not too long ago uncovered suspicious money actions, together with a case involving over $6 million on the Lagos airport.

She added, ‘’The NFIU has put in foreign money declaration kiosks at worldwide terminals and intensified public sensitisation to remind travellers of the necessary declaration of money above $10,000.’’

In the meantime, the Assistant Comptroller-Common of Customs, Zone A, Mohammed Babandede, who represented the Comptroller-Common of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, mentioned the partnership underscores the significance of inter-agency collaboration in combating cash laundering and terrorism financing.

ACG Babandede famous that inter-agency collaboration stays a key coverage focus of the Comptroller-Common’s administration, including that such partnerships have contributed considerably to nationwide safety efforts.

He defined that members had been drawn from the NCS, EFCC, Division of State Providers (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), and NFIU, reflecting a joint dedication to combating monetary crimes.

He mentioned, “The number of members was deliberate, specializing in officers from airports and land borders the place the motion of money and human site visitors is excessive. The coaching will allow members to trade concepts and develop actionable outcomes.’’

He reaffirmed the Service’s dedication to securing Nigeria’s borders in opposition to illicit monetary flows and urged members to use the information gained to reinforce vigilance and compliance of their respective instructions.

Equally, the EFCC Head of Investigations, Lagos Zonal workplace, Shehu Muhammad, emphasised the essential function of synergy in dismantling refined monetary crime networks.

Muhammad mentioned, ‘’The Nigeria Customs Service performs a lead function within the foreign money declaration regime, whereas the EFCC handles investigations and prosecutions. Strengthening inter-agency synergy will enhance our effectiveness.’’

What it is best to know

• Earlier in July 2025, the NCS had in collaboration with different regulation enforcement and regulatory companies, held a sensitisation train for worldwide airline operators on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport, Abuja, as a part of a proactive transfer to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-money laundering efforts.
• The session aimed to boost consciousness on the significance of imposing Nigeria’s foreign money declaration legal guidelines amongst inbound and outbound travellers, in addition to deal with the function of airline personnel in guaranteeing compliance, particularly in reminding passengers about declaration necessities by way of in-flight bulletins, type distribution, and cooperation throughout customs checks.
• Officers emphasised that any passenger carrying over the regulatory threshold, at present $10,000 or its equal, is required to make a declaration to the authorities. Failure to conform, they warned, might lead to seizure, investigation, and prosecution beneath Nigeria’s anti-money laundering legal guidelines.