By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recently held a sensitization exercise for international airline operators at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The event, which took place on July 5, 2025, aimed to raise awareness about enforcing Nigeria’s currency declaration laws among inbound and outbound travelers.
Passengers carrying over $10,000 or its equivalent are required to make a declaration to the authorities. Failure to comply may result in seizure, investigation, and prosecution under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws. Airline staff were reminded of their role in ensuring compliance by informing passengers about declaration requirements through in-flight announcements, form distribution, and cooperation during customs checks.
The NCS emphasized the need for airlines to submit electronic manifests (e-Manifests) before aircraft arrival, including complete passenger details such as names, countries of origin and destination, and flight numbers. This data enables customs personnel to conduct targeted risk assessments and enhance border monitoring.
Assistant Comptroller of Customs Salihu Mas’ud, who led the engagement, expressed confidence in the outcomes. He noted that the Service has implemented several operational tools to support effective enforcement, including dedicated search rooms for secondary searches, dedicated posts for currency declarations, and announcements on the Public Address System. Mas’ud added that these efforts would strengthen the enforcement mechanism, detect defaulters, and forward them for investigation and prosecution.
The sensitization session highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in securing Nigeria’s borders and preventing illicit financial flows. By working together, the NCS and airline operators can ensure compliance with currency declaration laws and prevent money laundering activities.
