United Kingdom and Nigeria Sign New Agreement to Fight Fraud Together
The United Kingdom and Nigeria have agreed to work more closely to stop fraud. Fraud is a type of crime where people trick others to steal money or personal information. The new plan will help both countries find, stop, and prevent fraud, especially crimes that happen across borders.
The agreement was signed this week in Abuja, Nigeria, during a visit by the UK’s Minister for Fraud, Lord Hanson. Leaders from both countries, including Nigeria’s Attorney General, Chief Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, signed the deal to strengthen their partnership.
What the Agreement Means
Under this new plan, the UK and Nigeria will:
Share information between their law enforcement agencies, like the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Nigeria’s Office of the National Security Adviser.
Loading...Work together on police operations to stop criminal groups early.
Help banks, internet companies, and phone companies close loopholes that fraudsters use.
Teach the public how to avoid fraud and share ideas on how to fight it.
Train Nigerian prosecutors with help from the UK’s Serious Fraud Office.
Lord Hanson said, “Fraud ruins lives. It takes people’s savings, their confidence, and their sense of safety. This new agreement will help us catch criminals faster, stop fraud before it happens, and protect people.”
Why This Agreement Is Important
Fraud is a big problem in the UK. According to recent reports, over 4.1 million fraud cases were recorded in one year, making it the most common crime. More than 70% of fraud affecting the UK comes from other countries or involves foreign criminals. This is why the UK is working with Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest economies, to stop these crimes.
Nick Sharp, a leader at the UK’s National Crime Agency, said, “Fraud hurts people in both our countries. By sharing information and working together, we can fight it better.”
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, added, “We must take crime seriously, work together, help victims, and punish criminals with strong action.”
Next Steps
This agreement follows a meeting between the UK and Nigeria in November 2024, where they started discussing how to fight fraud. Now, both countries will continue working together through joint operations, training, and public awareness campaigns.
By cooperating, the UK and Nigeria hope to make it harder for fraudsters to operate and protect people from losing money to scams.
