The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), has launched a comprehensive report titled “Organized Crime in Nigeria: A Threat Assessment.” The report provides an in-depth analysis of how transnational organized crime groups have evolved, expanded, and deepened their operations within and beyond Nigeria over the past decades.
According to the findings, organized crime groups operating in and out of Nigeria have become increasingly violent and sophisticated, posing a serious threat to national security, the economy, and the environment. The report identifies Nigeria as a base, transit, and destination country for organized criminal activities, a situation driven by porous borders and the country’s strategic position along global trade and shipping routes.
Speaking at the launch, representatives from UNODC and NISS emphasized that organized crime is one of the core drivers of insecurity in Nigeria, undermining democratic governance, stability, and the rule of law.
UNODC’s Response: Strengthening Nigeria’s Capacity to Combat Organized Crime
UNODC’s approach to tackling organized crime in Nigeria is multidisciplinary and collaborative. The agency supports Nigerian authorities in:
- Investigating and preventing human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.
- Combating drug trafficking, wildlife crimes, maritime crime, and piracy.
- Conducting financial investigations and monitoring illicit financial flows.
- Supporting the recovery of stolen assets and strengthening anti-corruption frameworks.
Through these initiatives, UNODC aims to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal networks, enhance institutional capacities, and promote regional and international cooperation among law enforcement and judicial agencies.
Collaboration with Nigerian Partners
UNODC continues to work closely with the Government of Nigeria and several key institutions to advance this mission. These include:
- Federal Ministry of Justice
- Nigerian Police Force (NPF)
- National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
- National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
- Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
- Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
- Nigerian Navy
- Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- Federal Ministry of Health
- Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Use (PACEDA)
- Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)
- Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
- National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA
Looking Ahead
UNODC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s ongoing reforms aimed at addressing organized crime through capacity building, policy support, and the strengthening of inter-agency and international cooperation.
The organization noted that only through coordinated national action and sustained global partnerships can Nigeria effectively mitigate the growing threat of organized crime and safeguard its development gains.
