In hopes of deepening transparency, strengthening asset recovery and curbing economic subversion, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has partnered with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to deploy advanced space and geospatial technologies in investigations and asset management.
A statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja on Thursday.
The agreement aims to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, particularly in the areas of investigations, asset tracking and fraud risk assessment, marking a new phase of collaboration between the anti-corruption agency and the Space Research and Regulatory Authority of Nigeria.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, described the agreement as a practical demonstration of the power of collaboration between government agencies.
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He said that closer collaboration would make it easier for the institutions to effectively carry out their statutory mandates.
According to Olukoyede, the MOU clearly defines the responsibilities of both agencies and establishes a framework for continued collaboration.
He revealed that a special monitoring and implementation team will be formed to ensure effective operation of the agreement and review its impact from time to time.
“We will create a team that will monitor the operation of this MoU and also review the effectiveness of the platform from time to time.
“When agencies work together in a spirit of cooperation, it not only increases efficiency but also encourages other ministries, departments and agencies to explore similar partnerships in the overall interest of national development,” he said.
Explaining the specifics of the partnership, the EFCC Chairman said NASRDA will provide advanced technological tools to boost the investigative capacity and asset tracking of the Commission, while the EFCC will deploy its expertise to support the agency in fraud risk assessment.
“We will support you in the area of fraud risk assessment, and you will support us in boosting our investigative capacity.
“Where our eyes cannot see, with the help of your technology we will be able to reach,” Olukoyede said.
He said the cooperation would be particularly beneficial in checking illegal mining activities, which is linked to economic sabotage and increasing insecurity in some parts of the country.
“With the technology that you're going to support us with, we'll be able to identify some of these areas,” he said.
Olukoyede further expressed optimism that the partnership will significantly enhance the asset management processes of the EFCC, stressing that asset recovery is one of the core pillars of the commission’s mandate.
He said the recovered assets are scattered across the country and exist under different legal statuses, including interim and final confiscation.
He said, “At some of these locations, we may not have enough staff to physically secure the properties. But with your support, we will be able to deploy geospatial technology and asset tagging tools to monitor both movable and immovable properties in a transparent and accountable manner.”
In his remarks, NASRDA Director General and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Adepoju welcomed the partnership, describing the MOU as a major milestone in the pursuit of justice and regulatory compliance within Nigeria’s space ecosystem.
Adepoju stressed that space-related activities are strictly regulated in developed economies and should be treated with similar seriousness in Nigeria, especially given the potential misuse of satellite assets.
“You can't go anywhere in Europe, the continental US or the Far East and do business in the space ecosystem without making sure the country knows that you are doing the right thing.
“We are aware of the fact that some satellite assets are being used negatively to increase insecurity in the country,” he said.
He also raised concerns over the use of satellite-mapped data on Nigeria's natural resources to aid illegal activities, particularly illegal mining, which he identified as one of the drivers of insecurity.
“Some of our natural resources have been mapped on satellite platforms and are providing information to local bad actors.
“Our research has shown that illegal mining is one of the drivers of insecurity in the country.
“That is why it is expedient for all those working in the upstream, mainstream and downstream sectors of the space sector to be properly regulated and comply with the law,” Adepoju said.
Adepoju assured that NASRDA will fully deploy its regulatory, space technology and spectrum management capabilities to ensure the success of the partnership.
“We have identified key areas of collaboration with the EFCC, which include asset management, asset tracking and tagging and geotagging of movable and immovable assets,” he said.
