President Bola Tinubu has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to classify mineral resource theft as an international crime, calling on the global community to reject and prohibit trade in stolen minerals from the region.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) held in Abuja, Tinubu—represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume—warned that illegal mining is fueling insecurity and underdevelopment across West Africa.
“Stealing of mineral resources is on the rise in the region, fuelling the proliferation of small arms, light weapons, and violent crimes such as kidnapping and banditry,” Tinubu said. “The time has come for ECOWAS to designate resource theft as an international crime.”
Illegal Mining, Insecurity, and Poverty: Tinubu Connects the Dots
The President lamented how illicit financial flows and looting of mineral wealth have undermined the region’s post-independence progress. He stressed that stolen resources are often smuggled abroad through international syndicates, which destabilize economies and worsen poverty.
“No single country can combat illicit financial flows alone,” Tinubu emphasized. “We must act together, through platforms like NACIWA, to protect our shared future.”
Asset Recovery Fueling Student Loans, Credit Schemes
Highlighting his administration’s use of recovered public funds, Tinubu revealed that ₦100 billion recovered by the EFCC has been injected into two key programmes:
- Students Loan Scheme – enabling underprivileged students to access tertiary education
- Consumer Credit Scheme – helping working Nigerians acquire essential assets and pay in installments
“These initiatives are direct dividends of anti-corruption efforts and proof that recovered funds can work for the people,” he said.
Call for Stronger Regional Cooperation
Tinubu applauded NACIWA’s role in strengthening anti-corruption institutions but called for stronger regional legal cooperation, intelligence sharing, and accountability in the extractive sector.
He urged ECOWAS to develop a new anti-corruption framework before the end of the 2025 General Assembly, focused on inclusivity, governance, and sustainable growth.
Attorney-General Flags Legal Loopholes, Political Interference
In his remarks, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), noted that while progress has been made, corruption remains borderless and adaptive.
“Corruption flows like water—always finding the weakest cracks. We can only corner and choke it by acting together,” Fagbemi said.
He cited key challenges in the region’s anti-corruption drive:
- Uneven asset recovery laws
- Poor cooperation on mutual legal assistance
- Inadequate funding
- Political interference in high-profile cases
Fagbemi called on ECOWAS member states to ratify and enforce regional anti-corruption protocols without delay.
EFCC Chair: AGA Marks New Chapter for NACIWA
Welcoming participants, NACIWA President and EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said the Assembly presents a chance to evaluate regional progress and recommit to the anti-corruption mandate.
Olukoyede highlighted achievements under his leadership since 2022:
- Operationalization of the NACIWA permanent secretariat in Nigeria
- Relocation of the Network’s account to Nigeria
- Standardization of membership dues and financial reporting mechanisms
“As ECOWAS turns 50, we must build a West Africa united by integrity, justice, and trust,” he declared.
