Sokoto Governor Assures EFCC of Support in Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment
By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi
Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, has assured the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies involved in the National Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment of the NonProfit Sector of the state government’s full cooperation.
The governor gave the assurance when he received the assessment team, led by Erinomo Temitope, at the Government House in Sokoto.
Aliyu described the exercise as timely and important to efforts aimed at identifying and addressing vulnerabilities within the non-profit sector that could be exploited to finance terrorism.
He noted that nonprofit organisations play a vital role in supporting vulnerable people and complementing government efforts in the delivery of social services.
The governor pledged to facilitate the team’s access to relevant government institutions, nonprofit organisations and other stakeholders in the state to ensure the successful completion of the assessment.
He further called on non-profit organisations operating in Sokoto to cooperate with the team by providing accurate information and feedback needed for the exercise.
Aliyu expressed optimism that the findings and recommendations from the assessment would strengthen transparency, accountability and good governance, while helping to protect legitimate humanitarian activities from abuse.
Earlier, the leader of the technical team, Erinomo Temitope, said the assessment was being conducted across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones by an inter- agency committee.
He explained that the exercise was designed to identify the extent to which the nonprofit sector could be vulnerable to exploitation by terrorists and their financiers, as well as develop measures to reduce such risks.
Temitope said the team would engage government agencies, security institutions, nonprofit organisations and other stakeholders in Sokoto to gather information on the challenges affecting their operations.
He added that the exercise would also sensitise nonprofit organisations on steps they could take to prevent their funds, resources and operations from being diverted towards terrorism financing.
According to him, combating terrorism financing requires coordinated action among government agencies, security institutions, civil society organisations, non-profits and other stakeholders.
He said Nigeria’s efforts were also aligned with international standards, including those established by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Temitope thanked the Sokoto State Government for its support, saying the cooperation of stakeholders remained essential to achieving the objectives of the assessment.
The exercise is expected to contribute to a better understanding of terrorism financing risks within the non-profit sector and support the development of measures that protect the sector while allowing legitimate humanitarian and charitable activities to continue.
