Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, has expressed concern over the inflow of weapons into the country from Libya.

NFIU Head, Strategic Communication, Sani Tukur, in a statement, quoted Bakari to have stated this when she led a delegation to participate in a roundtable organised by the Centre for International Private Enterprise in Washington D.C.

The NFIU boss, who attributed the development to the escalation of Nigeria’s internal security crisis, said Nigeria did not need a stopgap measure in fighting terrorism, called for a sustainable measure.

She stated: “Nigeria faces a significant internal crisis of banditry and kidnapping linked to terrorism and that the flow of weapons from Libya are a source of concern and is also directly associated with the escalation of Nigeria’s internal security crisis.”

Bakari drew the attention of the audience to the progress made by Nigeria to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation (AML/CFT/CPF) framework and highlighted the steps taken by the NFIU and other stakeholders to improve national measures to ensure the integrity of the financial system and prevent abuse by money launderers and other criminals.

Bakari noted that Nigeria was on the receiving end of terrorist activities in the Sahel and must adjust its AML/CFT/CPF strategy to include the private sector to succeed.

The CEO also highlighted that the NFIU had the political will and support to do its job but needed institutional support to achieve its mandate, adding that Nigeria needed the help of the international community in the fight against terrorism and proliferation finance in the Sahel and the Lake Chad region.

She revealed that the NFIU was able to revive the Joint Task Force on tackling terrorism finance in the Sahel, saying that later this month, member states would meet in Abuja to sign an MoU to that effect.

Bakari told the audience: “Nigeria does not need a stopgap measure in fighting terrorism. We need a sustainable measure, and we need your help getting there.”