Oyo govt partners EFCC to combat terrorism financing
BY STEPHEN GBADAMOSI
The acting governor of Oyo State, Barrister Bayo Lawal, has reiterated the administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property by strengthening collaboration with security agencies and relevant stakeholders.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, on Wednesday, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, Lawal made this declaration on Tuesday at a capacity-building workshop on awareness, intelligence gathering, and institutional response to emerging threats linked to illicit financial flows.
The workshop was held at the Western Hall, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The acting governor emphasised that the state government had intensified partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prevent the exploitation of humanitarian funding platforms and other financial channels for terrorism financing and criminal activities.
He noted that the evolving security situation in the South-West, particularly recent incidents of kidnapping, underscored the need for stakeholders to adopt stronger measures against unconventional threats.
According to him, criminal networks were increasingly deploying sophisticated methods to raise and move funds, including misuse of crowd-funding platforms, humanitarian interventions, non-governmental organiations (NGOs), and informal financial systems.
“While humanitarian assistance remains critical to supporting vulnerable communities, there is a need for improved regulatory frameworks, proper documentation, and effective monitoring to ensure such platforms are not hijacked by individuals or groups with criminal intentions,” Barrister Lawal stated.
He further stressed that strengthening financial intelligence and enhancing coordination among government agencies would be pivotal in disrupting criminal networks.
The acting governor urged participants from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to deepen their understanding of terrorism financing trends and develop proactive strategies for early detection and prevention.
He also called for the establishment of dedicated desks in MDAs to facilitate intelligence sharing, monitor suspicious financial activities, and ensure prompt responses to emerging security challenges.
The workshop provided a platform for experts and stakeholders to exchange best practices in countering terrorism financing, strengthening institutional capacity, and protecting legitimate humanitarian interventions from abuse.
In attendance were the Commissioner for Energy, Professor Dahud Shangodoyin; Commissioner for Investment, Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Professor Solihu Adelabu; Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola; permanent secretaries, directors, and other top government officials.
