NSA, group seek collaboration to tackle money laundering, terrorism

The National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), has stressed that without collaborative efforts, the fight against terrorism in the country may be a mirage.

He made this assertion in his keynote address at a sensitisation workshop held at Ibom Hall in Uyo yesterday.

Monguno, represented by Mrs. Catherine Udida, Head, Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism in his office, said that to defeat terrorists or manage the acts of terrorism, security agencies must be ahead of the terrorists.

He said the office of the national security adviser expects co-operation and contribution from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

According to him, the carnage unleashed by terrorists in the world, and Nigeria in particular, required concerted approach and efforts by all citizens and government at all levels to curb the menace.

In the same vein, Director-General, Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Adama Coulibaly, has urged all stakeholders, including the academic community, to join in the fight against money laundering and terrorism in the country.

Speaking yesterday in Benin City at a yearly public lecture series on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, said the lecture series aims to strengthen collaboration with the academia in its shared responsibility to addressing the twin problem of money laundering and terrorist financing.

He, therefore, urged the university authorities in the country to continue to demonstrate strong political and economic commitment to the course of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.

Declaring the workshop open, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, represented by his deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo, called for intelligence sharing among all security agencies to tackle terrorism in the country.

He advised all security agencies to constantly update their skills and information.