The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that some traditional rulers are colluding with illegal miners in various parts of the country, despite the detrimental effects of these activities on their communities and the nation at large,Daily Trust reports.
EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, made this statement on Tuesday in Abuja during the two-day inaugural International Anti-Corruption and Climate Change Conference. The event, organized by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) in collaboration with Hawkmoth and supported by the MacArthur Foundation, was themed, “National Stakeholders’ Engagement for Accountability and Transparency in Addressing Climate Change, Energy Transition, and Oil Licensing for Sustainable Development.”
“When we talk about environmental degradation, what is happening with illegal mining now, in another five years, could become much worse than the damage caused by oil and gas exploration,” Olukoyede warned. “This is a significant issue we are grappling with. You need to see the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, not just by foreigners but particularly by our own people, often with the support of some traditional rulers.”
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He further emphasized that the severe environmental damage in the Niger Delta, including oil spills and pollution, is largely driven by corruption, not merely by natural causes. “The Niger Delta today is plagued by oil spills, pollution, and ecosystem damage. This cannot be attributed solely to natural occurrences; corruption lies at the heart of these climatic disruptions,” Olukoyede stated.
Olukoyede stressed that transparency and accountability are crucial in addressing these environmental and economic crises and called for strict adherence to laws and regulations to combat corruption in the oil industry.
Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, highlighted the importance of learning from past mistakes as Nigeria transitions from oil and gas to new energy resources like lithium and solar energy. He cautioned against repeating the exploitation and mismanagement seen in the oil sector, urging the government to focus on sustainable development that benefits all regions of the country.
Suraju also emphasized the need to establish accountability mechanisms to ensure a responsible transition to new energy sources. “We cannot afford to transfer our negative experiences with oil and gas to the new energy sources. Nigeria has significant deposits of some of the resources needed for the energy transition. The government’s focus should not just be on exploiting these resources for power or revenue but ultimately on developing the people,” he said.
He also noted that communities in many states are grappling with high levels of illegal mining, often with the complicity of state governments and traditional rulers. He stressed the need for accountability mechanisms to be part of the foundation for transitioning to new energy sources in Nigeria.
Dr. Ishaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment, underscored the critical importance of transparency and accountability in tackling climate change. Represented by Mrs. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director of the Department of Climate Change in the Ministry of Environment, Salako highlighted the interconnected nature of climate challenges and the need for a comprehensive, all-sector approach.
“As acute as the climate change crisis is, it cannot monopolize funding and attention; it must compete with other critical sectors for financing,” Salako said. “A sound transparency and accountability framework for climate change is essential for sustainable action. It will lead to better coordination, improved decision-making, enhanced monitoring and evaluation of results, clearer identification of responsible stakeholders, coherence in country assistance, and improved access to finance domestically and internationally.”
