The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has entered into a groundbreaking agreement with Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) to intensify efforts against environmental crimes. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday, September 20, by ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN, and Justin Gosling, EIA’s Securing Criminal Justice Programme Lead.
This partnership aims to enhance collaboration and information sharing between the two agencies to combat environmental crimes, including wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, pollution, and climate change-related offenses.
Dr. Aliyu emphasized the critical link between corruption and environmental crimes, stating, “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 in Nigeria and across West and Central Africa for nearly five years, focusing on strengthening local investigative capacities and supporting civil society efforts in tackling environmental abuse. Gosling highlighted the importance of the partnership, noting, “Environmental criminal networks are driven by profit, and the role of corruption in the public sector cannot be underestimated.”
The EIA’s work in Africa is supported by international partners such as the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Defra Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. The agency is known for its undercover investigations that expose transnational wildlife and forest crimes, while advocating for stronger enforcement and legislative reforms.
This MoU represents a significant step toward addressing environmental crimes in Nigeria, with both agencies committed to developing strategies to curb illegal activities threatening the country’s natural resources and biodiversity.
