PENGASSAN Urges Federal Government to Reveal Financiers Behind Terror Activities

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on the Federal Government to publicly identify and prosecute individuals, groups, and networks believed to be sponsoring terrorism across the country. The association said exposing the financiers of violent extremism has become crucial for national security, economic stability, and the protection of workers whose lives and livelihoods are threatened daily by insecurity.

PENGASSAN’s leadership expressed concern that despite years of government interventions, billions of naira spent on security operations, and multiple military deployments across various regions, terrorist groups have continued to survive due to the influence of powerful backers who fund their operations. The union insisted that unveiling these sponsors would not only weaken the organisational capabilities of criminal groups but also restore public confidence in the fight against terrorism.

The association emphasised that oil and gas workers have been among the worst affected by insecurity, especially in operational fields where kidnappings, vandalism, pipeline attacks, and militant disruptions have undermined productivity. PENGASSAN added that for the country to achieve any meaningful progress in its energy sector reforms, national development goals, and economic revival strategies, insecurity must be addressed at the root by dismantling the financial structures sustaining terrorism.

According to the union, the government’s silence on the identities of known financiers raises concerns about political interference, elite protection, or bureaucratic delays. It argued that Nigerians deserve full disclosure of individuals responsible for funding terror networks, adding that transparency is essential for trust-building and accountability. PENGASSAN maintained that revealing the sponsors would demonstrate that no individual is above the law and that national security is not negotiable.

The association also urged security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and investigative efforts aimed at tracing the financial flows that sustain insurgent groups. It noted that terrorism cannot thrive without logistics, arms procurement, money laundering, and channeling of funds through local or international networks, stressing that identifying these channels must be prioritised.

PENGASSAN further highlighted that insecurity has imposed heavy economic costs on Nigeria, from disruptions in crude oil exploration to restricted movement of goods and services, reduced foreign investment, and increased government spending on security. The union pointed out that the country’s oil output continues to suffer setbacks because workers cannot safely operate in some high-risk areas, including the Niger Delta and certain northern corridors where terrorists and bandits have expanded operations.

The union argued that the fight against terrorism is not solely a military operation but also a battle against financial enablers who sit behind the scenes and profit from instability. It urged the government to pursue forensic investigations into bank transactions, suspicious funding patterns, and the involvement of foreign collaborators or domestic power brokers. PENGASSAN said that exposing these networks would weaken terrorist groups, cut off their funding, limit their operational capabilities, and ultimately reduce attacks on citizens and critical national infrastructure.

PENGASSAN also called for stronger legislative backing to ensure that individuals linked to terrorism funding face swift and decisive prosecution. It said Nigeria must send a strong message that terrorism financing is a crime punishable under the full weight of the law, regardless of political influence, wealth, or status.

The union encouraged the government to work with international partners, including financial intelligence units, regional blocs, and global counterterrorism agencies, to track cross-border financial trails. It noted that terrorism is often supported by transnational criminal groups involved in smuggling, drugs, illegal mining, human trafficking, and other illicit trades.

In addition to legal and security measures, PENGASSAN advised the government to address socio-economic factors that enable recruitment into terror groups. It said poverty, unemployment, poor education, and marginalisation create fertile ground for radicalisation, adding that peace cannot be achieved without broad social reforms targeted at youth empowerment and community development.

The association stressed that Nigerian workers, whether in oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture, or services, deserve to operate in a secure environment. It urged the government to act quickly to stabilise communities and ensure that no region is left vulnerable to attacks.

 

PENGASSAN concluded by reaffirming its commitment to supporting national security efforts while demanding transparent and decisive action from the Federal Government. The union insisted that exposing the individuals behind the violence that has claimed thousands of lives is long overdue. It added that Nigerians have waited too long for a clear and honest revelation of the forces that fund the insecurity plaguing the country, and that naming the sponsors is essential to moving forward and restoring peace.