UK, Nigeria sign joint fraud action plan to curb cross-border financial crime 

According to a statement from the British High Commission, the agreement was formalised this week in Abuja during a visit by the UK’s Minister for Fraud, Lord Hanson.

Lord Hanson, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of their respective governments, solidifying the partnership.

Under the new agreement, both countries will deepen collaboration across law enforcement, intelligence sharing, public awareness campaigns, and regulatory coordination, with a focus on tackling increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes that exploit international loopholes.

“Fraud ruins lives. It strips people of their savings, their confidence, and their sense of security,” Lord Hanson said.

“Our new agreement with Nigeria will help us better identify and stop fraud before it happens, crack down on criminals who exploit our systems, and ultimately protect the public,” he added.

The joint fraud action plan outlines several priority areas, including:

The agreement comes at a critical time, as fraud continues to be the most commonly experienced crime in the UK. According to the UK’s Crime Survey for England and Wales, over 4.1 million incidents were recorded in the year ending December 2024, accounting for 43% of all crimes.

Deputy Director of Fraud at the UK’s National Crime Agency, Nick Sharp, emphasised the shared threat:

“This Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria underscores our commitment to tackling a threat that causes significant harm to citizens of both nations. By sharing vital intelligence and conducting joint operations, we will strengthen our collective response.” 

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, also highlighted Nigeria’s commitment, saying:

“We must confront crime with greater seriousness, deepen collaboration, address enablers, support victims, and pursue perpetrators with unyielding commitment.” 

The MoU builds on the momentum of the UK-Nigeria Fraud Dialogue launched in November 2024.

The forum brings together stakeholders from cybersecurity, law enforcement, and policy to coordinate actions and track progress under the bilateral agreement.