London-based EIA Signs MOU with ICPC to Tackle Environmental Crime in Nigeria

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has signed an historic agreement with Nigeria’s leading agency responsible for tackling corruption in the public sector, recognising the need for increased transparency and accountability to address environmental crime.

A statement on Thursday by EIA, said on Friday 20 September, Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC), and Justin Gosling, EIA’s Securing Criminal Justice Programme Lead, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) opening the door for increased cooperation and information sharing between the respective organisations.

Aliyu recognised the importance of addressing corruption within the field of environmental crime, stating: “Environmental crimes such as wildlife trafficking, pollution and those contributing to climate change pose a major threat to Nigerians.

“The role of public sector corruption is unacceptable and the ICPC looks forward to cooperating with the EIA to improve our response to this important area of criminal activity.”

EIA has been working for almost five years in Nigeria and in West and Central Africa, developing the capacity of investigators, raising awareness and understanding among prosecutors and the judiciary, forging relationships with the public and private financial sectors and assessing and developing new endangered species legislation, in addition to supporting civil society organisations in the region.

Gosling said the new partnership was critical to evolving the response to environmental crime in the region.

He said: “Environmental criminal networks are driven by profit and financial gain and the role of corruption in public sectors cannot be underestimated,” adding: “We welcome this groundbreaking agreement with the ICPC and look forward to developing strategies together to address wildlife trafficking and other forms of environmental crime.”

EIA’s projects in West and Central Africa are supported by the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Defra Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the Pangolin Crisis Fund and the Full Circle Foundation.

EIA investigates and campaigns against environmental crime and abuse. Its undercover investigations expose transnational wildlife crime, with a focus on elephants, pangolins and tigers and forest crimes such as illegal logging and deforestation for cash crops such as palm oil.

It works to safeguard global marine ecosystems by addressing the threats posed by plastic pollution, bycatch and commercial exploitation of whales, dolphins and porpoises, works to avert climate catastrophe by strengthening and enforcing regional and international agreements that tackle short-lived climate super-pollutants, including ozone-depleting substances, hydrofluorocarbons and methane, and advocating corporate and policy measures to promote transition to a sustainable cooling sector and away from fossil fuels.

It uses its findings in hard-hitting reports to campaign for new legislation, improved governance and more effective enforcement.

Its field experience is used to provide guidance to enforcement agencies and it forms partnerships with local groups and activists and support their work through hands-on training.