By RhemDy News
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has charged the Oyo State Government to enact a registration law to empower Non-profit Organisations in the state to tackle terrorism financing.
Olukoyede noted that by enacting the law, the Commission's regulatory requirements will be followed and proper monitoring mechanisms ensued to guide the operations and activities of the NPOs to ensure that the sector is not be used as conduit pipe for terrorism financing in Oyo State and Nigeria.
The EFCC boss gave the charge via the Lagos Zonal Coordinator for Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) and Team Lead for the 2026 National Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment delegation for the Non-profit Organisation Sector in South-West, ACE 1 Ibinabo Amachree, at a three-day Risk Assessment exercise that commenced on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The exercise, focused on collection of data and interactive engagement with the Oyo State ministries, departments and agencies, relevant security agencies and sensitisation of non-governmental organisations, highlighted the threats, vulnerabilities and unintended consequences within the NPO sector and the need to remain resilient against the spread of terrorist networks in the Southwest.
Olukoyede expressed an urgent need for a law that would ensure stringent registration, monitoring and supervision of NPOs activities to prevent the diversion of humanitarian aid and donations for terrorism financing.
He noted that the recent kidnapping occurrences across the South-west region made the risk assessment exercise a vital necessity to tackle the emerging security threat.
While commending the Oyo State Government, the Director of Department of State Services (DSS), Oyo State Command, Usman Biu; and the representative of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General M.I. Falana for their support and cooperation towards the success of the risk assessment exercise, Olukoyede enjoined the NPOs to continue to support and complement Oyo State government’s efforts in providing basic essential social amenities, humanitarian aid, support vulnerable populations and healthcare services towards achieving effective economic growth in the State.
He further urged the NPOs operating in the state to take advantage of the sensitisation segment presented by the risk assessment exercise and adopt measures that would protect their activities and resources from being channeled towards terrorism financing.
The EFCC chairman also assured relevant stakeholders of the Commission’s unwavering support towards tackling terrorism financing head on in the country.
In his remarks, Oyo State Acting Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, represented by the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, gave the assurance of the state’s continuous support to the EFCC and other relevant agencies conducting the National Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment exercise.
The Acting Governor noted that terrorist elements were increasingly exploiting crowdfunding, humanitarian interventions and informal financial channels to raise and move funds.
Babatunde stated the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government will do the needful to ensure that NPOs are not exploited for terrorism financing in the State.
For his part, the State Director of DSS, Biu, pledged that the Command will continue to work with Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs saddled with the responsibility of engaging with the NPOs in the State.
Biu added that all forwarded lists of registered NGOs to the Command were profiled, vetted and cleared before they began operations as part of the DSS’ mandate.
In his remarks, the GOC, 2 Division Nigerian Army, General Auwalu Mahnuda, commended the EFCC for realising that the anti-graft agency cannot combat terrorism financing alone thereby reaching out to relevant stakeholders for their contributions.
He added that the Nigerian military will continue to provide adequate and timely information sharing that will expose any terrorism financing within the state and the nation.
The risk assessment exercise demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to risk-based supervision and reflects Nigeria’s resolve through the EFCC to remain aligned with international standards in combating terrorist financing.
The 2026 national risk assessment team was drawn from the EFCC, international non-governmental organisations, local non-governmental organisations and both state and federal MDAs across the country.
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