News
Stop Supporting Corruption – EFCC Boss Olukoyede Tells CSOs
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has charged Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, across the country to distance themselves from corrupt elements who advance the cause of bad governance with no consideration for the plight of Nigerians bearing the brunt of corrupt practices.
He gave this charge in Abuja on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 when he received in audience, executives of the Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks led by the Chairman, Ambassador Ibrahim Waiya.
According to the EFCC boss, “whatever that is not expedient should be abhorred. It is appalling to see Civil Society Organisations veer off their mandate and be supporting bad governance. There are instances where some state governments deliberately set up and fund Civil Society Organisations to attack agencies set up to enforce anti-corruption laws”, he said.
Olukoyede frowned at the tendencies of some CSOs championing ill-motivated causes, especially offering defences to individuals and groups indicted for corruption. “Please, let them know that such tendencies are against progress and development of the nation. Their platforms are not meant for such engagements”, he said.
He said it was very important for actors in the civil society space to understand that their mandate required them to play very critical roles in the development of the society. “The CSOs are critical to the fight against economic and financial crimes. Some of the high -profile cases the Commission has prosecuted was made possible by the efforts of some of the promoters of these CSOs.
They are even playing the roles of prosecution witnesses in support of anti-graft agencies. That is why within six months of my appointment, I have met with the coalition of CSOs twice. To me, we cannot do it all alone. We surely need to collaborate to achieve the mandate”, he said.
The Chairman specifically commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking crucial measures on the issue of Consumer Credit and Students’ Loan Scheme, which he said have great propensity of curbing corruption. “50 percent of my job would have been done by the time these policies come on stream. Imagine workers getting car loans and mortgage loans at 3, 4 and 5 percent to be repaid in the next 30 years. It will reduce corruption to the barest minimum”, he said.
Earlier, Waiya described the Conference as a regional network of non-governmental, non-partisan, not for profit, non-ethnic and non-religious platform, with the sole objective of advocating for the best practices of democracy, accountable governance and increased development of Northern Nigeria and beyond through policy advocacy, collaboration and partnership.
He said the group brought together various civil society networks operating in the Nineteen Northern States and FCT, under a common umbrella, with a clear focus of promoting synergy among different states-based networks, to collectively aid in achieving socio-economic, political, infrastructural and sustainable development in the region and Nigeria at large.
He specifically commended Olukoyede for his sterling fight against Naira abuse and noticeable paradigm shift in the entire war against economic and financial crimes. “We want to commend you for your bold moves in moving the anti-corruption fight forward”, he said. He called for greater penetration of the grassroots to ensure that false narratives and campaigns against the Commission are neutralized.
He called for closer collaboration with the EFCC to ensure optimal results in the fight against corruption.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to stop all ongoing and planned divestments of oil assets in the Niger Delta region by oil companies.
This demand was outlined in a petition titled “Urgent Call to Halt All Divestment in the Niger Delta, Including Shell’s Refused Sale of SPDC Shares”, addressed to President Tinubu on December 16, 2024, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas on December 18, 2024.
During a press briefing in Abuja, Mr. Isaac Botti, Programmes Coordinator of Social Action Nigeria, and Reverend Nnimmo Bassey, Founder of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), highlighted the severe environmental and social impacts of oil exploration in the Niger Delta. They stated:
“We are here as representatives of Nigerian society organizations, community leaders, and concerned citizens to address a grave and urgent issue that threatens not only the people of the Niger Delta but the environmental and economic interests of Nigeria and the social future of all Nigerians”, he said.
The Coalition expressed concern over the divestment process by International Oil Companies (IOCs), particularly Shell’s proposed sale of its remaining shares in the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to the Renaissance consortium, as well as similar moves by companies like TotalEnergies.
They warned that these actions could undermine national interests and exacerbate environmental damage in the region.
The Coalition detailed extensive damage caused by decades of oil exploration, including:
- Water Contamination: High levels of hydrocarbons in water sources have rendered them unsafe for drinking.
- Soil Degradation: Continuous oil spills have destroyed farmlands, threatening food security.
- Biodiversity Loss: Entire ecosystems have been decimated by oil spills.
Citing reports by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission (BSOEC), the Coalition provided alarming statistics. UNEP revealed benzene levels 900 times above safe limits in Ogoniland, while chromium levels in Bayelsa were over 1,000 times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
The BSOEC estimated it would cost at least $12 billion to remediate Bayelsa over 12 years, with a broader cleanup across the Niger Delta requiring $100 billion. Comparatively, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the U.S. saw BP pay $60 billion for damages from a single incident.
The Coalition emphasized that past divestments by Shell, ENI/AGIP, and ExxonMobil have left unresolved environmental liabilities:
- Shell’s sale to Aiteo in Nembe resulted in worsening pollution without proper cleanup efforts.
- ExxonMobil and ENI/AGIP similarly failed to ensure adequate environmental management post-divestment.
These cases have set a troubling precedent of IOCs avoiding accountability for environmental degradation.
The Coalition urged the federal government and the National Assembly to take immediate action by:
- Halting all IOC divestments until historical environmental liabilities are addressed.
- Ensuring inclusive consultations with host communities before divestments.
- Mandating that Shell, TotalEnergies, and other IOCs fund cleanup and remediation efforts.
- Upholding the regulatory independence of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
- Creating an Environmental Restoration Fund to support long-term remediation.
They also demanded profit-sharing opportunities for host communities and the inclusion of gas flaring cessation in divestment agreements.
The Coalition stressed that approving Shell’s SPDC share sale without addressing environmental and social liabilities would undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and well-being.
“Approving Shell’s or TotalEnergies’ divestment in its current form without addressing the profound environmental and social costs would be a grave injustice to the people of the Niger Delta and could lead to significant unrest in the region.”, it stated.
The Coalition reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring environmental justice and called on President Tinubu and the National Assembly to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians over corporate interests.
Civil Society Groups Urge FG To Halt Oil Asset Divestments in Niger Delta
NUJ-FCT Council Commiserates With Emmanuel Fateman Over the Loss of Wife
Reps Debate 2025 Budget Estimates, Demand Better Allocation for Security, Agriculture
Just in: Terrorists ambush military truck, kill all soldiers on board
Nigerian Dancer, Korra Obidi Attacked with acid, stabbed on stage In UK
Meet Rare Gem 16 Years Old Chiaza, CEO of ‘RUN MARKET PLACE’
-
News20 hours agoLawmaker laments over 2023, 2024, 2025 budget running in one circle
-
News20 hours agoVideo: Tinubu Arrives Lagos, Meets Old ‘Friend’ Papa Ajasco
-
Sports19 hours agoI Failed In Front of the World Four Years Ago — Lookman’s Touching Speech After Winning CAF Award
-
Economy20 hours agoUK inflation rises further ahead of Bank of England rates decision
-
News12 hours agoLeadership crisis rocks office of AGF, may delay payment of Dec salary
-
News20 hours agoLagos Mosque Takes Down ‘Jesus Christ is Not God’ Banner After Backlash
-
Economy19 hours agoDangote Refinery, NNPCL resume fight over $1bn loan
-
News19 hours agoTinubu, Oborevwori Distribute Cash, Rice, Medical Supplies To Elders In Delta