The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) is holding capacity-building training on the development of countering the financing of terrorism curriculum and training modules under the ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Action Plan 2020–2024. The event is taking place in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
GIABA is a specialised institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that is responsible for strengthening the capacity of member states towards the prevention and control of money laundering and terrorist financing in the region.
In his opening remarks at the event, the Director General of GIABA, Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., appreciated Nigeria’s efforts in ensuring cooperation and collaboration amongst competent authorities in the fight against transnational organised crimes in the country, particularly in fighting money laundering and terrorist financing. He noted that, despite these achievements, the need to strengthen collaboration amongst stakeholders was vital, hence the necessity for the training of key officials.
“Money laundering and the financing of terrorism continue to adversely impact the socio-economic development, peace, and security of our member states and beyond. In the last decade, the ECOWAS community has experienced an increasing level of terrorism, radicalization, and violent extremism at an alarming rate. The GIABA Community shares this global concern regarding the current situation in the Central Sahel area and north-eastern Nigeria and will continue to provide the necessary support to mitigate the money laundering and terrorist risks identified in line with the ECOWAS Priority Agenda.
“It is therefore important to optimise the technical assistance provided to the GIABA member states by making knowledge, capacities, and expertise available locally and ensuring that resources are distributed more effectively, efficiently, and coordinated. Hence the train-the-trainers project, which has been specially designed to meet the needs of our countries.”
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Mohammed Jiya who represented the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), tasked participants to remain resolute in their efforts to counter terrorism financing in the ECOWAS region.
“Terrorism in West Africa has been a significant security challenge for several years, with various militant groups operating in the region, which include Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansaroul Islam, and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) among others.
“Regional cooperation, intelligence-sharing, and capacity-building efforts are also crucial in addressing the transnational nature of the threat posed by terrorism in West Africa. The development of the CFT curriculum and training modules for capacity building becomes critical,” he added.
Commitment from the Nigerian Counter Terrorism Centre
The National Coordinator of the Nigeria Counter Terrorism Centre, Rear Admiral Yaminu E. Musa (Rtd), noted that
“In the West African sub-region, particularly the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, the activities of the various terrorist groups have persistently increased despite the sustained efforts and cooperation among national governments within the region. Terrorist organisations will not survive for long without finance because terrorism is an expensive venture that requires a sustained supply of money for its sustenance.”
Rear Admiral Musa emphasised that:
“Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) in West Africa, on all frontiers, can only be achieved through the firm determination and cooperation of all states predicated on a comprehensive approach by identifying terrorist sources of funding and networks within the Sub Region. This means that states’ efforts should include collaborative efforts at denying the affiliated terrorist groups any haven, cross border movements, access to funding and space to extend their reach.”
The training has participants drawn from anti-corruption agencies, financial intelligence units, the military, and other relevant actors in GIABA member states.
