IBADAN — The Oyo State Government has moved to strengthen its financial intelligence and security architecture, warning that criminal networks are increasingly exploiting crowdfunding, humanitarian interventions, NGOs and informal financial systems to fund illicit activities.
Acting Governor Bayo Lawal, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, disclosed this on Tuesday at a capacity-building workshop on emerging threats associated with illicit financial flows held at the Western Hall, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Lawal said the administration was deepening collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies to prevent the diversion of humanitarian and financial platforms for terrorism financing and other criminal purposes.
He said the recent wave of kidnapping and other security challenges across the South-West had made stronger intelligence gathering, financial monitoring and inter-agency coordination imperative.
The Acting Governor urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies to establish dedicated intelligence desks for monitoring suspicious financial activities, sharing actionable information and responding swiftly to emerging threats.
He stressed that tighter documentation, effective regulation and enhanced financial intelligence were essential to protecting legitimate humanitarian interventions while disrupting criminal networks.
The workshop brought together senior government officials and security stakeholders to strengthen institutional capacity and develop proactive strategies for detecting and preventing terrorism financing.
Among those present were Commissioners for Energy, Investment, Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, and Works and Transport, alongside permanent secretaries, directors and other senior officials.
