The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has urged the Oyo State Government to enact legislation strengthening the registration, monitoring and supervision of non-profit organisations (NPOs) to prevent their exploitation for terrorism financing.

Olukoyede said stronger regulatory mechanisms were necessary to ensure that humanitarian aid, donations and other resources channelled through NPOs were not diverted to finance terrorist activities in the state and the country.

He spoke through the Lagos Zonal Coordinator of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) of the EFCC and Team Lead of the 2026 National Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment delegation for the NPO sector in South-West Nigeria, Assistant Commander of EFCC, ACE I Ibinabo Amachree, during a three-day risk assessment exercise in Ibadan.

The exercise focused on data collection, engagement with government ministries, departments and agencies, security agencies and sensitisation of non-governmental organisations on threats and vulnerabilities within the NPO sector.

Olukoyede said the proposed law would provide a framework for proper registration and supervision of NPOs and help prevent the sector from becoming a conduit for terrorism financing.

He stressed the urgency of strengthening oversight of the sector, particularly against the backdrop of recent kidnapping incidents across the South-West, which he said had heightened the need for a comprehensive assessment of terrorism financing risks.

The EFCC chairman also urged NPOs to adopt measures capable of protecting their activities and resources from being diverted towards terrorism financing.

He, however, lauded the organisations for their contributions to the provision of essential social services, humanitarian assistance, healthcare and support for vulnerable populations.

Olukoyede urged them to continue complementing government efforts towards economic and social development while ensuring compliance with relevant regulatory requirements.

Responding, the Oyo State Acting Governor, Bayo Lawal, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, assured the EFCC and other relevant agencies of the state government’s support for the risk assessment exercise.

Babatunde said terrorist elements were exploiting crowdfunding, humanitarian interventions and informal financial channels to raise and move funds.

He assured that the Oyo State Government, under Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, would take necessary measures to ensure that NPOs were not exploited for terrorism financing.

Also, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oyo State Command, Usman Biu, acknowledged the importance of the exercise and pledged continued collaboration with the state government and relevant agencies.

Biu said lists of registered non-governmental organisations forwarded to the command were profiled, vetted and cleared before they commenced operations, in line with the DSS mandate.

The General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, represented by the Chief of Staff, Brigadier-General M.I. Falana, said the military would continue to support efforts aimed at identifying and disrupting terrorism financing.

He commended the EFCC for recognising that combating terrorism financing required collaboration among security agencies, government institutions and other stakeholders.

At the concluding session of the exercise in Ibadan, NPO representatives from Oyo, Osun and Lagos states were sensitised on compliance with existing regulations and the need to maintain public trust and confidence in the activities of charitable organisations.

The EFCC said the exercise formed part of the Federal Government’s risk-based approach to combating terrorism financing and demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to international standards in tackling illicit financial flows and terrorist financing.