The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has urged air travellers to declare all foreign currency exceeding $10,000 to avoid seizure under anti-money laundering laws.
The appeal was made on Tuesday during a sensitisation session at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for international airline operators and airport stakeholders.
The NCS said declaring excess currency is a legal requirement and failure to do so may result in confiscation and legal action against offenders.
Customs Area Controller, MMIA Command, Comptroller Effiong Harrison, said passengers must report foreign currencies, precious metals, or negotiable instruments above the $10,000 threshold.
“This is the second awareness forum on inward and outward currency declarations at our Anti-Money Laundering Unit,” the Controller stated.
He said since the last sensitisation in February 2025, several cases of non-declaration, false, or under-declaration had been intercepted.
“Those apprehended were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution,” Harrison said.
Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Anti-Money Laundering, Mas’ud Salihu, said the NCS had introduced enforcement tools to counter money laundering effectively.
Salihu noted that customs works with the EFCC and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to inspect declaration points across terminals.
He added that dedicated search rooms and posts for currency declarations were fully operational at the airport.
Salihu said customs had partnered airline operators to ensure onboard announcements reminding passengers of currency declaration rules.
He expressed hope that these initiatives would raise compliance and strengthen enforcement against defaulters and money laundering violators.
Salihu reminded passengers they are only exempted from declaring if travelling with less than $10,000 in currency.
He insisted any amount exceeding the threshold must be declared at departure or arrival, without exception.
The EFCC, NFIU, DSS, and FAAN warned that undeclared funds would be seized and travellers prosecuted under Nigerian laws.
They said airlines must now submit electronic passenger manifests, including full names, countries, and destination details before arrival.
Flight numbers and risk-based assessments by customs and security agents are now part of border surveillance operations.
The agencies urged airlines to step up compliance through onboard announcements, declaration forms, and clear signage at terminals.
Also, NDLEA’s Narcotics Commander, Muhammad-Tukur Ahmad, said drug-related cases were diligently investigated and offenders prosecuted.
He asked airlines to always share passenger manifests with security agencies to aid thorough screening processes.
Ahmad revealed the agency tracks individuals who purchase tickets for known drug traffickers using suspicious payment records.
Similarly, FAAN’s Chief of Security, Mr Anthony Idokogi, said more scanning machines would be deployed to support customs’ screening operations.
This, he said, would reduce delays and help avoid unnecessary interference with air passengers during checks.
A stakeholder and Airframe Manager, Mr Dami Ogunseyi, appealed for prior notice before passenger checks to prevent flight disruptions.
Mrs Adetoun Odejinmi, Airport Manager for British Airways, also asked for clearer expectations from agencies to aid smoother collaboration. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)