The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised concerns about the involvement of some traditional rulers in supporting illegal mining activities across various parts of Nigeria despite the significant negative impact these activities have on their communities and the country as a whole.
Speaking at the two-day International Anti-Corruption and Climate Change Conference organized by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) in collaboration with Hawkmoth and supported by the MacArthur Foundation in Abuja, EFCC Chairman Mr. Ola Olukoyede highlighted the growing environmental damage caused by illegal mining. The conference focused on “National Stakeholders’ Engagement for Accountability and Transparency in Addressing Climate Change, Energy Transition, and Oil Licensing for Sustainable Development.”
Olukoyede warned that the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining could become far worse than oil and gas exploration damage within the next five years. He stressed that illegal mining, facilitated by both local and foreign actors, is a major issue exacerbated by the involvement of some indigenous people, including traditional rulers.
“The illegal mining problem is growing, causing severe environmental damage. In many cases, this damage is being aided by some of our traditional rulers,” Olukoyede said.
He also pointed out that the environmental crisis in the Niger Delta, marked by oil spills, pollution, and ecosystem damage, is driven by corruption rather than just natural causes. “The Niger Delta today suffers from severe pollution and environmental damage, which is not due to natural causes alone. Corruption is at the root of these climatic disruptions,” he added.
Olukoyede emphasized the need for strict adherence to laws and regulations to combat corruption and ensure transparency and accountability in tackling these environmental and economic crises.
The Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, also highlighted the need for Nigeria to learn from past mistakes as the country transitions from oil and gas to new energy sources such as lithium and solar energy. He warned against repeating the exploitation and mismanagement seen in the oil sector and urged the government to focus on sustainable development that benefits all regions of the country.
Suraju called for accountability mechanisms to ensure a responsible transition to new energy sources. He stressed that the focus should not only be on exploiting natural resources for power or revenue generation but on development for the people.
Dr. Ishaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment, also stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing climate change. Represented by Mrs. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director of the Department of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment, Salako underscored the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling climate challenges.
Salako said, “A strong transparency and accountability framework for climate change is essential for sustainable climate action. It improves coordination, decision-making, spending allocations, and monitoring and evaluation of climate goals, while enhancing access to domestic and international finance.”
