By Mercy Gadia
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu on Monday presided over the 11th Meeting of Heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus for West Africa, calling for stronger regional collaboration to combat transnational crime.
The high-level meeting, held in Abuja, brought together heads of NCBs from 16 West African countries, alongside senior officials from the INTERPOL General Secretariat and other regional security agencies.
Addressing participants, the IGP highlighted the growing complexity of security threats across the sub-region, noting that criminal networks increasingly operate beyond national borders.
He said, “Human trafficking syndicates, arms dealers, drug networks, cyber fraudsters, money launderers, terrorist financiers, and violent extremist groups all share one defining characteristic they operate without regard for national borders.”
Disu stressed that no single country could effectively tackle these threats in isolation, adding that the region’s success would depend on “the speed and quality of partnerships forged across all sixteen member states.”
The police boss outlined measures already taken by Nigeria to strengthen cross-border policing, including the expansion of INTERPOL’s I-24/7 secure communication system to border posts and law enforcement institutions nationwide.
According to him, the initiative ensures that officers at entry points have real-time access to critical intelligence, similar to their counterparts at headquarters.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to Project GEMINI, which focuses on the systematic uploading and verification of data on stolen and lost travel documents, and referenced the West African Police Information System as a key example of successful regional data integration.
Looking ahead, Disu identified three major priorities for Nigeria and the region ensuring full access to INTERPOL databases across West African borders, improving coordination for rapid joint operations, and strengthening trust among member states.
“Without trust, even the most sophisticated systems fall short,” he said.
In his remarks, the leader of the INTERPOL delegation commended Nigeria for hosting the meeting and described the full attendance of all 16 NCB heads as a strong signal of commitment to regional cooperation.
He urged participants to move beyond discussions to concrete, measurable actions and to adopt proactive strategies in tackling crime.
The official said, “Participants must leave not just with intentions, but with commitments capable of being measured, and shift from reacting to crime to anticipating and disrupting it before harm is done.”
The meeting underscored Nigeria’s strategic role in regional security cooperation and highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing evolving transnational threats.