The federal government has officially published a list of 48 individuals and groups allegedly linked to terrorism financing in Nigeria.
The disclosure was made public on Saturday by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC), an inter-agency body responsible for identifying and sanctioning entities involved in the financing of terrorist activities.
According to a statement accompanying the list, the designated individuals and groups have been under surveillance for several months, with intelligence reports allegedly connecting them to funding networks that support insurgent operations across the country.
The federal government stated that the sanctions include immediate freezing of all bank accounts, assets, and properties linked to the named parties, as well as a prohibition on any financial institutions or individuals from transacting business with them.
While the full list contains 48 entries, government sources revealed that it includes a mix of high-profile business owners, informal financial operators, and regional non-governmental organizations suspected of acting as front companies for militant factions.
The Nigeria Sanctions Committee emphasized that the designation is based on “credible intelligence and reasonable grounds,” although it noted that those named have the right to appeal their listing through a formal delisting request to the committee. Security analysts have described the move as one of the most comprehensive efforts by the current administration to cut off funding streams to extremist groups, following years of criticism that previous lists were either too narrow or lacked enforcement.
The federal government has directed the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to begin immediate enforcement of the sanctions, warning that any bank or individual found violating the order will face prosecution.
As of the time of this report, none of the named individuals or groups had issued a public response to their designation, but civil society organizations have already raised concerns about due process, noting that being “linked” to terrorism financing does not constitute a criminal conviction.
The federal government, however, maintains that the sanctions list is a preventive and administrative measure, not a criminal indictment, and that further legal action may follow based on ongoing investigations.
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