Traditional rulers collaborating with illegal miners, says EFCC chairman

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has berated some traditional rulers for collaborating with illegal miners to encourage environmental damage in different parts of Nigeria.

Speaking at a two-day first international anti-corruption and climate change conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, Olukoyede said traditional rulers should be brought to book for aiding and abetting illegal mining because of stipends and kickbacks they receive from miners.

He warned that Nigeria’s environment will be worst hit in the next five years if concerted steps are not taken by authorities to checkmate the rising tide of illegal mining in the country.

“So let us begin to have that at the back of our minds. It (illegal mining) is a major problem that we are grappling with,” the EFCC chairman said.

“You need to see the pictures of some of the environmental damage that illegal mining is causing, not only from foreigners alone but particularly from our indigenous people in their environment.

“In some cases, supported by some traditional rulers.”

He also said the severe environmental damage in the Niger Delta, including oil spills and pollution, was largely driven by corruption.

“The Niger Delta today is riddled with cases of oil spills, pollution, and damage to the ecosystem. This cannot be blamed on natural occurrences alone. Corruption is at the root of climatic disruptions,” he added.

Olukoyede added that transparency and accountability are essential in addressing the environmental and economic crises.

On his part, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, said the failure of the government to contain the activities of illegal miners has led to the degradation of the environment.

Falana said illegal mining can be linked to other criminal activities, such as terrorism.

“The environment is being degraded due to the failure of the government. Trees are felled without any replacement, and gold is taken out of the country,” he said.

The conference was organised by the HEDA Resource Centre in collaboration with Hawkmoth and supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

The theme of the event was ‘National Stakeholders’ Engagement for Accountability and Transparency in Addressing Climate Change, Energy Transition, and Oil Licensing for Sustainable Development’.