By Isaac Aregbesola
President Bola Tinubu has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to designate resource theft, illegal mining, and mineral smuggling as international crimes that threaten regional stability.
Tinubu made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the 7th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA).
The theme of the 2025 assembly is “A United ECOWAS Against Corruption: Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Asset Recovery and Exchange of Information.”
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, Tinubu said recovery of stolen assets remained central to the region’s anti-corruption efforts.
He noted that West Africa’s post-independence development had been undermined by corruption, including the theft and transfer of public wealth abroad.
“Stealing of mineral resources is on the rise in the region, fuelling proliferation of small arms and light weapons and violent crimes such as kidnapping and banditry,” Tinubu said.
“These have worsened our security challenges and the region’s development outlook. I believe the time has come for ECOWAS to declare resource theft and illegal mining as international crimes that threaten regional stability.”
The president said such designation would help galvanise global action against the trade in stolen minerals from West Africa.
He stressed the need for stronger collaboration to curb illicit financial flows and corruption, noting that no country could tackle the menace alone.
Tinubu said Nigeria had made progress in tracing and recovering stolen assets, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), under Mr Ola Olukoyede, recording notable recoveries in the past two years.
He urged ECOWAS member states to move from rhetoric to deliberate actions that would promote good governance and shared prosperity in the region.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also called for stronger regional unity against corruption, describing it as a moral, legal, and cultural challenge.
Fagbemi urged member states to domesticate the ECOWAS Protocol on Corruption to ensure that corrupt officials find no safe haven across the subregion.
“Let us domesticate the ECOWAS Protocol on Corruption so that thieves find no hiding place,” he said.
“The child who says his mother will not sleep will also not sleep; so the corrupt who disturb the peace of nations must not find rest across borders.”
He also proposed the establishment of an ECOWAS Regional Task Force on Asset Recovery, supported by NACIWA, to enhance investigations and intelligence sharing.
Fagbemi warned against underfunding anti-corruption agencies, saying it could weaken their integrity and effectiveness.
“The goat eats where it is tied; if we starve our institutions, they will be unable to resist corruption,” he said.
He recommended strengthening regional collaboration, improving information exchange, and training investigators, prosecutors, and judges to enhance asset recovery efforts.
In his remarks, NACIWA President and EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, said the fight against corruption in West Africa must be linked to the broader goals of political stability and social justice.
He noted that the network faced challenges such as political transitions, insecurity, and governance issues in some member states.
Olukoyede called on member institutions to reaffirm their commitment to NACIWA’s founding principles of solidarity, accountability, and institutional integrity.
He urged the network to consolidate its achievements and ensure cooperation beyond political cycles and national boundaries.
Dignitaries at the event included the Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Sen. Emmanuel Udende.
Also present was the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, who was represented by Mr Nnamdi Eze.
Other attendees included the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Gautta Mignot, and the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ms Damtien Tchintchibidja.
The UNODC Country Representative, Mr Cheikh Toure, was represented by Princess Chifiero. (NAN)
Edited by Deborah Coker
