Counternarcotics and Law Enforcement Country Program: Nigeria

Program Goals

The INL objective in Nigeria is to strengthen the capacity of important Nigerian law enforcement agencies, including notably their ability to combat organized crime such as drug trafficking, money laundering and other financial crimes, as well as public corruption. Over the medium term, Nigerian law enforcement should be more able to target, investigate and convict the leadership elements of drug trafficking, money laundering and financial fraud organizations and hopefully also the major perpetrators of public corruption.

Program Components/Accomplishments

• Counter Narcotics Assistance: Since Nigeria returned to democratic government in 1999, INL has assisted Nigerian law enforcement agencies in combating international crime emanating from Nigeria, including narcotics trafficking. (Nigeria – the most populated country in sub-Saharan Africa –is a major drug transiting country.) .In addition to training and equipment assistance to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA – the counterpart of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration), INL has provided assistance to a broad range of other Nigerian law enforcement bodies.

• Police Assistance: Between 2002 and 2005, INL funded training and equipment for components of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), initially including election security and subsequently basic recruit training, as well as curricula for police academies and community policing techniques intended to assist in the reform and development of policing capabilities. INL also funded a technical adviser to the Police Service Commission (PSC) in order to promote civilian oversight of policing in a democracy.

• Corruption and Financial Crime Assistance: INL has provided training and equipment to augment Nigerian capability in combating financial crimes, including Advance Fee Fraud and money laundering. INL also provided training and equipment to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to build capacity in pursuing money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to assist in the investigation and prosecution of corrupt public sector officials.

• Justice Sector Prosecutorial Assistance: An INL-funded U.S. Department of Justice prosecutor, assisted by other TDY U.S. prosecutors and experts from U.S. law enforcement agencies, provided advice and training to investigators, prosecutors and other officials of the ICPC, the EFCC, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), the NDLEA, and the Ministry of Justice.

• Impact and Future Cooperation: Counternarcotics assistance to the NDLEA –particularly the recent use of INL-funded body scanners at Nigerian international airports– has resulted in promising drug trafficking interdictions. Counternarcotics assistance will remain an important area for future cooperation. Assistance to the National Police Force in 2002-2005 had minimal impact on police reform and development, but there may be future scope for targeted police assistance. A program to build capacity on bulk cash smuggling interdiction is ongoing, and further training, including operational training, will take place. Cooperation with Nigerian agencies to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and financial fraud will remain important. Helping Nigerian agencies combat corruption will also remain a major objective of INL assistance but one that depends heavily on Nigerian political will to address this widespread problem.

Funding FY07-FY09

• FY 2007 - $400,000 (INCLE)
• FY 2008 - $590,000 (INCLE)
• FY 2009 - $720,000 (INCLE)
• FY 2010 - $500,000 (INCLE)

INCLE: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Funds