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Tinubu urged ECOWAS to classify resource theft and illegal mining as international crimes.
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He said the crimes fuel insecurity and hinder regional development.
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EFCC and NACIWA leaders pledged stronger collaboration against corruption.
President Bola Tinubu has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to declare resource theft, illegal mining, and mineral smuggling as international crimes, warning that such activities threaten regional peace, security, and development.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at the opening of the 7th Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) in Abuja, Tinubu stressed the need for collective regional action against corruption and illicit financial flows. The meeting was themed “A United ECOWAS Against Corruption: Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Asset Recovery and Exchange of Information.”
The president lamented that illicit outflows and resource theft continue to undermine growth and stability across West Africa, fueling insecurity through the proliferation of arms, kidnapping, and banditry. He urged ECOWAS to take decisive steps to classify resource theft as an international crime and mobilize global support against trade in stolen minerals.
“No country can single-handedly win this battle,” Tinubu said. “It requires collaboration, and NACIWA provides the platform to coordinate our regional response.”
Tinubu further stated that his administration is strengthening asset tracing, recovery, and management frameworks to ensure recovered proceeds of crime are reinvested for public benefit. He cited the Students Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Scheme, both funded with N100 billion in recovered assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as examples of this commitment.
EFCC Chairman and NACIWA President, Ola Olukoyede, in his remarks, reaffirmed the network’s dedication to regional collaboration against corruption. He noted progress made in repositioning NACIWA as a credible platform despite security and governance challenges.
Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Senate Committee Chairman on Anti-Corruption, Senator Emmanuel Udende, also commended the EFCC’s leadership and pledged continued legislative support for stronger anti-corruption cooperation in West Africa.
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