President Bola Tinubu has urged world leaders to recognize the theft of Africa’s mineral resources as an international crime, describing it as a grave threat to peace, stability, and development across the continent.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Asokoro, Abuja, Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said it was time for African nations to unite and demand global accountability for the growing menace of illegal mining and mineral smuggling.
He stressed that recognizing the looting of mineral wealth as an international crime would empower affected nations to take decisive action against offenders and curb the financing of transnational criminal networks.
Security experts have repeatedly linked the rise in banditry and armed conflict in parts of Nigeria to illegal mining operations, particularly in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto states. Similar patterns, Tinubu noted, are visible across West Africa in countries like Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Mali, where gold smuggling has become a multi-billion-dollar underground trade.
Data from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) shows that billions of dollars worth of minerals are smuggled out of the region every year, robbing African economies of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
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Tinubu expressed dismay that, despite decades of independence, corruption and unchecked exploitation of mineral resources continue to stall economic growth and political stability in the region. He warned that proceeds from these crimes not only drain national wealth but also fund insurgency, proliferation of small arms, and the growing wave of kidnappings and violent crimes.
“The economic and political path of West Africa since independence has been marred by corruption and resource theft by officials who hide illicit funds abroad,” he said. “Theft of mineral resources is rising and directly fuels the spread of weapons, banditry, and insecurity across the region. It is time to classify resource theft and illegal mining as international crimes that threaten our collective stability.”
Tinubu further urged NACIWA delegates to strengthen collaboration in financial intelligence, tighten anti-money laundering frameworks, and conduct comprehensive reviews of the extractive sector to ensure transparency and accountability across West Africa.
The President’s remarks come amid renewed calls from anti-corruption bodies for tougher international sanctions on corporations and individuals involved in the illicit trade of Africa’s mineral wealth.
