Oyo State Tackles NGO Misuse for Criminal Activities

On Tuesday, Acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, reaffirmed the state's commitment to protecting lives and property by enhancing collaboration with security agencies. Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof Musibau Babatunde, Lawal spoke at a workshop focused on awareness and intelligence gathering regarding illicit financial flows.

The event, held at the Western Hall, Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, aimed to address the misuse of humanitarian funding platforms for terrorism financing. Lawal highlighted the partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to prevent exploitation of financial channels.

He noted the increasing sophistication of criminal networks in the South-West, particularly in light of recent kidnappings. The Acting Governor called for better regulatory frameworks and monitoring to prevent misuse of crowdfunding and NGOs.

He urged relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to enhance their understanding of terrorism financing and develop proactive strategies. The workshop facilitated discussions among experts on countering terrorism financing and protecting legitimate humanitarian interventions.