The Nigeria Police Force and leaders of the banking industry have renewed their commitment to closer collaboration aimed at safeguarding the country’s financial system and strengthening economic stability.
The engagement, hosted in Lagos by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in collaboration with the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers, brought together top banking executives and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
At the meeting, the police chief stressed the strong link between financial security and national security, noting that the stability of banking operations plays a vital role in sustaining investor confidence and Nigeria’s global credibility.
He warned that the sector is facing a changing threat landscape, with risks now extending beyond armed attacks to more complex challenges such as cyber-enabled fraud, identity theft, insider collusion, and illicit financial flows.
The Inspector-General said the Force is strengthening an intelligence-driven approach to the protection of financial infrastructure, citing recent operations that disrupted violent crime and kidnapping networks, as well as the recovery of illegal arms.
He also referenced recent engagements with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Exchange Group, describing them as part of broader efforts to enhance financial system integrity and investor protection.
According to him, the Force is also stepping up the recruitment, training, and deployment of Supernumerary Police Officers in line with the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, to meet the specialised security needs of banks and other critical financial institutions.
Egbetokun reaffirmed the police’s commitment to working with the banking sector as a strategic partner to protect the stability, integrity, and international reputation of Nigeria’s financial system.
