President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on world leaders to recognise the stealing of countries’ mineral resources through illegal mining and smuggling as an international crime.
Speaking at the 7th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) in Abuja, the President said the illegal exploitation of Africa’s natural resources has become a global threat to economic stability and peace.
Tinubu lamented that billions of dollars are lost yearly to mineral smuggling, corruption, and illicit trade, which he said fuel insecurity, kidnapping and banditry across the continent.
“The stealing of our countries’ mineral resources should no longer be treated as a local issue. It is an international cr+me that undermines peace and stability,” he said.
The President urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the broader international community to strengthen legal frameworks that criminalise illegal mining and resource theft.
He also called for collective regional action to trace and recover stolen assets, while emphasising transparency in their use. Tinubu disclosed that Nigeria has so far channelled over ₦100 billion in recovered proceeds into social intervention projects such as the Student Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Scheme.
“No nation can win this fight alone. We must build stronger partnerships and ensure that those who profit from our collective wealth face justice,” he added.
Tinubu further appealed to world leaders to support a global convention against resource theft, similar to existing international laws against drug and human trafficking.
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