By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Police Force and key leaders in the banking sector have renewed their commitment to deepening collaboration aimed at strengthening financial security and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic stability.
The engagement, hosted in Lagos by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in collaboration with the Body of Banks’ CEOs, brought together top banking executives and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, to reinforce strategic partnerships critical to protecting the nation’s financial architecture.
In an official signed statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the meeting underscored a shared resolve between the Nigeria Police Force and the banking industry to safeguard Nigeria’s financial system as a cornerstone of national stability and economic growth.
In his remarks, the Inspector-General of Police highlighted the strong nexus between financial security and national security, stressing that the resilience of banking operations is central to investor confidence and Nigeria’s global credibility. According to him, the security landscape has evolved significantly, with the financial sector now facing increasingly sophisticated threats beyond traditional armed attacks.
He noted that banks are contending with cyber-enabled fraud, identity compromise, insider facilitation, and illicit financial flows, all of which demand proactive, intelligence-driven responses. To counter these risks, the Nigeria Police Force has continued to advance an intelligence-led policing approach tailored to protecting critical financial infrastructure across the country.
The IGP referenced recent police operations that dismantled violent crime networks, disrupted kidnapping syndicates, and recovered illegal arms, measures he said have strengthened the enabling environment for business continuity and economic activities nationwide.
He also disclosed that he had recently engaged with the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Abuja, as well as the Nigeria Exchange Group (NGX), in furtherance of efforts to enhance financial system integrity and bolster investor protection. These engagements, he explained, form part of a broader strategy to ensure that law enforcement remains closely aligned with regulatory and market institutions in preserving trust within Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.
In line with the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the Inspector-General further revealed that the Force is enhancing the recruitment, training, and deployment of Supernumerary Police Officers, commonly referred to as “Spy Police,” to address the specialised security needs of banks and other critical financial institutions.
Reaffirming the Force’s commitment, IGP Egbetokun assured stakeholders that the Nigeria Police Force would continue to work closely with the banking sector as a strategic partner in safeguarding the stability, integrity, and international reputation of Nigeria’s financial system.
The engagement marked another significant step in consolidating cooperation between law enforcement and financial institutions, reflecting a shared understanding that economic security and national security are inextricably linked.
