Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to criminalise resource theft, illegal mining, and mineral smuggling, highlighting these activities as international crimes posing threats to regional stability. Tinubu made this appeal during the 7th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) held in Abuja. The assembly, themed ‘A United ECOWAS Against Corruption: Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Asset Recovery and Exchange of Information,’ provided a platform for discussing anti-corruption strategies.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, emphasized the importance of recovering stolen assets for the region’s anti-corruption efforts. He pointed out that corruption, including the theft and transfer of public wealth abroad, has historically hindered West Africa’s development. Tinubu expressed concern over the rising theft of mineral resources, which contributes to the proliferation of small arms, light weapons, and violent crimes such as kidnapping and banditry. He advocated for ECOWAS to recognize resource theft and illegal mining as international crimes to galvanize global action against the trade in stolen minerals from West Africa.
Highlighting Nigeria’s progress in recovering stolen assets, Tinubu mentioned the achievements of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Mr Ola Olukoyede. He urged ECOWAS member states to take deliberate actions to promote good governance and shared prosperity regionally.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), supported stronger regional unity against corruption, framing it as a moral, legal, and cultural challenge. Fagbemi encouraged the domestication of the ECOWAS Protocol on Corruption within member states to prevent corrupt officials from finding safe havens. He proposed establishing an ECOWAS Regional Task Force on Asset Recovery, backed by NACIWA, to enhance investigations and intelligence sharing.
Fagbemi also warned against underfunding anti-corruption agencies, suggesting it could jeopardize their integrity and effectiveness. He recommended enhancing regional collaboration, improving information exchange, and training investigators, prosecutors, and judges to boost asset recovery efforts.
NACIWA President and EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, linked the fight against corruption in West Africa to broader goals of political stability and social justice. He acknowledged challenges faced by the network, including political transitions, insecurity, and governance issues in some member states. Olukoyede called for reaffirming commitment to NACIWA’s founding principles of solidarity, accountability, and institutional integrity, urging cooperation beyond political cycles and national boundaries.
Dignitaries at the event included Sen. Emmanuel Udende, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, and Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, represented by Mr Nnamdi Eze, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes. The event also featured Ms Gautta Mignot, EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Damtien Tchintchibidja, Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, and Mr Cheikh Toure, UNODC Country Representative, represented by Princess Chifiero.