The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, called out traditional rulers for colluding with illegal miners and causing environmental damage in Nigeria. Addressing a conference in Abuja, Olukoyede highlighted the need to hold these rulers accountable for receiving kickbacks from miners.
He emphasized the urgency of tackling illegal mining to prevent further environmental degradation in the country. Olukoyede also linked corruption to the environmental crisis in the Niger Delta, attributing oil spills and pollution to corrupt practices.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana echoed Olukoyede’s concerns, pointing out that illegal mining contributes to environmental degradation and can lead to other criminal activities like terrorism.
The conference, organized by the HEDA Resource Centre with support from the MacArthur Foundation, focused on promoting transparency and accountability in addressing climate change, energy transition, and sustainable development.