FATF Grey List: FAAN, Customs harmonise processes at airports

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have forged a new partnership and collaboration to improve passenger and cargo facilitation at airports across the country. This is part of the drive to deepen Nigeria’s financial integrity as the country puts in place measures to get delisted from the Financial […]

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have forged a new partnership and collaboration to improve passenger and cargo facilitation at airports across the country.

This is part of the drive to deepen Nigeria’s financial integrity as the country puts in place measures to get delisted from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

FATF is the global body established in 1995 to lead international action to combat money laundering, terrorism, and proliferation financing.

On February 24, 2023, Nigeria was placed on the FATF Grey List due to increased capital inflows and deficiencies in combating money laundering, terrorism, and arms financing.

However, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Bashir Adeniyi was on a tour of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) yesterday where he was received by the FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku and other management staff of the authority.

Both the Customs CG and FAAN MD did a tour of the MMIA new and old terminal where they assessed facilities put in place to enhance passenger and cargo facilitation.

Of particular importance is the reduction of interfaces of passengers with security officials at the airport through automation of the screening system.

Already, the FAAN recently deployed advanced screening technologies, e-gate systems to enhance security and safety of airport users.

The Customs CG disclosed that Nigeria is expecting the FATF team in a matter of weeks, saying the renewed collaboration with FAAN was part of the measures to exit Nigeria from the global financial watch-list.

He expressed satisfaction with the provision of designated rooms for currency declaration by arriving and departing passengers even as he commenced the regular announcement, reminding passengers of the need to declare currency above $10,000 in their possession.

Adeniyi said, “On the issue of exiting Nigeria from the grey list of FATF, I am quite satisfied with the measures that have been put in place by FAAN. These measures include provision of designated places where currency declaration can be made.

“I am also happy to announce that as we are working towards exiting this list, Nigeria Customs Service has gone a notch higher by automating its process. Ultimately we would be hoping to merge our form with the passenger declaration form and passenger arrival form issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service.

“We are expecting the inspection team of the FATF in a matter of weeks in Nigeria and we believe that we have put in place enough measures to get them satisfied and remove Nigeria from the list but more importantly our meeting today has created a platform for us to deepen collaboration and continue the conversations that would help us to address whatever issues and disagreements we have.”

Kuku in her remarks stated that the renewed collaboration is a testament of the inter-agency synergy aimed at improving passengers’ experience and trade facilitation at the airports.

She said, “We are working closely in getting Nigeria off the grey list with other agencies of government to curb any sort of money laundering and illicit financial activities across our borders. Both agencies are working closely together on currency declaration, not just on departure but also on arrival.”

The MD also added that FAAN secured commitment from the customs to reduce the number of officers interfacing with passengers at the airports while taking advantage of the automated screening process.

However, she assured that security would be kept at the highest level especially at cargo terminals where there are always increased activities.