The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intensified efforts to facilitate Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
This was highlighted on Thursday during a joint inspection tour of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos by FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, and Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi. The two agencies assessed passenger and cargo terminals, focusing on infrastructure and process improvements aimed at aligning with international anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) standards.
Countries placed on the FATF grey list are subject to increased monitoring due to strategic deficiencies in AML/CTF regimes, facing reputational and transactional risks despite not being officially blacklisted.
Speaking during the inspection, Mr. Adeniyi emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in improving compliance and border security.
“Our collaboration helps secure Nigeria’s borders while also improving passenger experience. The goal is to uphold security without unnecessary delays. We are happy with the structure FAAN has created, which includes both in-person and out-of-home declaration points,” he said.
He commended FAAN for establishing designated areas where travelers can declare funds, in line with FATF requirements. According to him, regular airport announcements now remind passengers of their duty to declare sums above $10,000 — a key FATF benchmark.
Adeniyi noted that automation is a critical next step in simplifying the declaration process. While acknowledging ongoing developments, he cited the rollout of E-gates as a milestone in digitizing border operations.
“Ultimately, we hope to manage declarations through data collected from passenger arrival cards. The deployment of technology makes our job easier and gives us optimal results,” he added.
On trade facilitation, the Customs boss observed that terminal operators are becoming more committed to supporting exports. He also disclosed that the deployment of non-intrusive inspection technology would soon be expanded to more airports across the country.
“The Nigeria Customs Service is supporting this effort with the right policies and faster clearance processes. We’re testing solutions in Lagos that will eventually be rolled out nationwide to ensure uniformity and efficiency,” he said.
Adeniyi expressed optimism about Nigeria’s readiness ahead of a scheduled FATF evaluation.
“We believe the steps taken so far, including better structures, joint inspections, and process digitization, position Nigeria for removal from the grey list. Automation of currency declarations and passenger screening helps eliminate bottlenecks. Technology is the bridge to stronger compliance,” he affirmed.
Also speaking, FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to operational efficiency and passenger education.
“We’ve reduced touchpoints, enhanced screening, and improved the passenger journey through targeted investments. The E-gates project is only the beginning. We are educating travelers at multiple points arrival, departure, and throughout the terminal on the need to declare currency where necessary,” she said.
Kuku highlighted the importance of awareness in ensuring compliance, adding that FAAN’s collaboration with Customs would help minimize delays and boost the competitiveness of Nigerian exports.
She also expressed confidence in Nigeria’s chances of exiting the grey list soon.
“We are building a system where compliance and convenience work side by side. The partnership with Customs is essential,” Kuku concluded.
The ongoing reforms are part of a broader national strategy to strengthen financial controls and restore Nigeria’s standing in the global financial system.
