Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken steps to strengthen inter-agency cooperation in Ilorin as part of an intensified campaign to tackle major economic crimes affecting Nigeria’s financial system and natural resources sectors. On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Ilorin office, Assistant Commander Victoria Ugo‑Ali, paid courtesy visits to senior officials of both the Ilorin Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kwara Command. These engagements are part of a renewed effort to address the dollarization of the Nigerian economy and the illegal excavation and exploitation of the country’s mineral resources by local and foreign networks.
At the CBN meeting, Ugo‑Ali emphasized the need for close collaboration between the EFCC and the apex bank to curb illicit foreign currency transactions that undermine the value of the naira and facilitate money laundering and capital flight. The discussion focused on sharing financial intelligence, monitoring currency flows, and coordinating enforcement actions to maintain economic stability. The CBN branch controller, Monga Muhammed, affirmed the bank’s readiness to deepen cooperation and highlighted measures already in place to track and regulate currency misuse.
The visit to the NIS focused on strengthening the role of immigration enforcement in preventing illegal mining activities, particularly those involving foreign nationals. Ugo‑Ali highlighted the link between unregulated mineral extraction and transnational criminal networks and stressed the importance of intelligence sharing and coordinated border control to prevent unlawful exploitation of resources. Comptroller Hossein Ayuba Muhammed pledged the support of the NIS in profiling suspicious individuals, enhancing border surveillance, and facilitating joint operations with the EFCC.
These visits are part of the EFCC’s broader strategy to mobilize government institutions in a coordinated response to economic crimes that threaten national security and financial integrity. Officials noted that currency abuse, illegal mining, and other forms of financial misconduct are interconnected challenges that require real-time intelligence sharing, joint enforcement actions, and strengthened institutional partnerships.
The Ilorin zonal command of the EFCC has in recent months carried out operations targeting illegal mining activities along the Ilorin–Ogbomosho corridor, seizing significant quantities of minerals transported without authorization. These actions underscore the broader effort to protect Nigeria’s natural resources, preserve revenue, and ensure environmental sustainability in mining areas.
The renewed collaboration between the EFCC, CBN, and NIS aims to expand joint operational planning, enhance monitoring mechanisms, and coordinate interventions to disrupt illicit activities affecting the economy and mineral sector. Officials from all agencies expressed optimism that the partnership will improve enforcement outcomes, safeguard the naira, support lawful mining, and strengthen Nigeria’s overall economic security. Follow-up technical meetings are planned to convert strategic commitments into actionable operations, intelligence frameworks, and joint enforcement campaigns.
The coordinated engagement reflects a growing recognition among Nigeria’s law enforcement and regulatory agencies that complex economic crimes require systemic approaches, leveraging institutional capacities, intelligence sharing, and inter-agency cooperation to protect national interests.
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