By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has signed a historic agreement with Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on the need for increased transparency and accountability to address environmental crime.
A statement on Thursday by EIA said that on Friday, September 20, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu, and EIA’s Securing Criminal Justice Programme Lead, Justin Gosling, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), paving the way for increased cooperation and information sharing between the two organisations.
Mr. Aliyu was said to have recognised the importance of addressing corruption within the field of environmental crime, saying: “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.
It is also 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.
Environmental criminal networks are driven by profit and financial gain and the role of corruption in public sectors cannot be underestimated.
Mr. Gosling said the new partnership is 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.
“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.
Among others, the 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.
It also 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.
It further advocates corporate and policy measures to promote transition to a sustainable cooling sector and away from fossil fuels.
