President Bola Tinubu has called on West African leaders to classify resource theft, illegal mining, and mineral smuggling as international crimes,
He described them as grave threats to regional peace, stability, and development.
The President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, made the call in Abuja on Tuesday while opening the Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA).
He lamented that despite decades of independence, corruption and the plundering of mineral resources continued to undermine the region’s progress.
The President urged leaders across the subregion to come together against the criminal networks that profited from mineral smuggling and resource plunder, stressing that such acts fueled instability and hindered sustainable development.
News Edited by Favour Owonibi