The Economicz and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen inter-agency collaboration.
The agreement was formalised on Thursday, at the EFCC corporate headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, described the partnership as a strategic move to improve operational efficiency across government institutions.
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Olukoyede stated that, the MoU clearly outlines the responsibilities of both agencies and would be implemented through a special monitoring and evaluation team to ensure effectiveness.
“This collaboration is an attestation to the power of synergy among government agencies. It will make the accomplishment of our mandates easier and more effective,” he said.
He further explained that NASRDA would provide advanced technology to strengthen EFCC’s investigative capacity, particularly in asset tracking and monitoring.
According to Olukoyede, the partnership will also boost the Commission’s ability to combat illegal mining activities by deploying geospatial technologies to identify and monitor affected areas.
He added that the Commission plans to adopt asset tagging and satellite-based monitoring tools to secure assets recovered through forfeiture proceedings.
“Some of these assets are scattered across the country and cannot be physically monitored at all times. With geospatial technology and asset tagging devices, we will be able to track and protect them more effectively,” he added.
Adepoju noted that certain satellite assets and space-based data have been exploited to support illegal mining and criminal activities, stressing the need for stronger enforcement and compliance.
“This MoU will ensure that organisations operating in the space ecosystem comply with Nigerian laws. Illegal mining and misuse of satellite data remain major drivers of insecurity,” he said.
