President Bola Tinubu has urged West African leaders to categorise resource theft, illegal mining, and mineral smuggling as international crimes, warning that such activities pose serious threats to the region’s peace, stability, and development.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening of the Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), the President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, called for a united regional front against criminal networks profiting from the illicit trade in minerals.

Tinubu lamented that despite decades of independence, corruption and the exploitation of mineral resources continue to undermine the economic and political advancement of West African nations.

“I believe the time has come for us to designate resource theft, mining, and stealing of minerals in the region as an international crime that threatens regional stability and galvanise the world against threats from stolen minerals from West Africa,” he stated.

He further emphasised the need for collective regional action, urging leaders to strengthen cooperation and enforcement mechanisms to disrupt the illicit networks that perpetuate economic sabotage and insecurity across the subregion.