The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is pushing for enhanced surveillance at airports’ private wings to combat illicit financial activities, particularly money laundering. On September 2, 2025, NCAA Director General Captain Chris Najomo urged the EFCC to strengthen its operations to tackle economic and financial crimes in the aviation sector during a visit to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede in Abuja. Private wings of airports were identified as hotspots for illicit activities, including money laundering through chartered services, non-remittance of funds by airlines, and fraudulent ticketing systems often exploited by foreign airlines. These activities undermine the NCAA’s ability to fund safety oversight and maintain operational transparency.
The EFCC has a history of intercepting significant sums of money at Nigerian airports, with $9 million seized in 2012 alone, highlighting the scale of the issue. Najomo emphasized vulnerabilities in high-value transactions like aircraft purchases, leasing, and foreign maintenance contracts, which are prone to fraud and money laundering. He also pointed to illegal charter operations disguised as private flights, which involve unregulated financial flows. To address these, the NCAA seeks EFCC’s financial intelligence to unmask fraudulent activities and proposed training NCAA staff to detect financial red flags, alongside joint sensitization workshops and intelligence sharing. Olukoyede pledged the EFCC’s commitment to sanitizing the aviation industry, noting that their presence alongside the NCAA would enhance credibility and deterrence.