President Bola Tinubu has identified illegal mining and mineral theft as major sources of terrorism funding and insecurity across northern Nigeria and the wider West African region.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja, Tinubu warned that proceeds from stolen mineral resources are directly fueling the activities of terrorists, bandits, and arms smugglers operating in the subregion.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the President called for the global recognition of mineral theft and illegal mining as international crimes. He said the illicit trade in natural resources has evolved into a sophisticated network that finances violence, corruption, and economic sabotage across borders.
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“The proceeds from stolen resources not only deprive our nations of critical revenue but also fund insecurity, banditry, and the proliferation of small arms across West Africa,” Tinubu said. “It is time the international community treats mineral theft in Africa as a global crime against peace and development.”
He urged ECOWAS member states to adopt coordinated measures to combat illicit financial flows linked to illegal mining, emphasizing that no single nation could successfully address the crisis alone. According to him, strengthening regional intelligence sharing, asset tracing, and anti-money laundering frameworks is key to dismantling the financial pipelines that sustain criminal enterprises.
Tinubu revealed that his administration has intensified asset recovery efforts and introduced new legal frameworks to manage repurposed funds transparently. He disclosed that N100 billion recovered from crime proceeds has already been channeled into the Student Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Scheme to enhance social inclusion and financial access.
Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, echoed the President’s position, calling on West African countries to domesticate the ECOWAS Protocol on Corruption to prevent corrupt officials and criminal financiers from finding refuge within the region. He also proposed the creation of an ECOWAS Regional Task Force on Asset Recovery to boost cross-border investigations.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and President of NACIWA, Ola Olukoyede, urged regional leaders to align anti-corruption initiatives with broader objectives of political stability and social justice, warning that corruption and terrorism remain deeply intertwined.
Tinubu’s remarks come amid renewed efforts to reform Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, which has recorded a sixfold revenue increase and attracted over $800 million in foreign investments within a year. Despite the sector’s rising fortunes, the government maintains that illegal mining continues to undermine both national security and economic progress.
The President’s call signals a new regional front in the fight against terrorism, shifting attention from traditional security responses to the financial lifelines that sustain armed groups in northern Nigeria and beyond.
