The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) have taken a major step toward strengthening inter-agency cooperation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing investigations, asset tracking and national security.
The Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, disclosed that the MoU was formalised on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the EFCC’s corporate headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, marking a new phase of strategic collaboration between the two federal agencies.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, described the agreement as a clear demonstration of the power of collaboration in governance. He noted that effective partnerships among government agencies would significantly ease the delivery of their respective mandates and accelerate national development.
According to him, the MoU clearly outlines the responsibilities of both organisations and provides a framework for sustained cooperation. He disclosed that a special monitoring and implementation team would be established to ensure the effective operationalisation of the agreement and periodic review of its impact.
Mr. Olukoyede explained that the partnership would see NASRDA deploy advanced space-based and geospatial technologies to enhance the EFCC’s investigative capacity, particularly in asset tracking and monitoring. In return, the EFCC would support NASRDA in the area of fraud risk assessment, ensuring transparency and accountability within the space ecosystem.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration would significantly strengthen the EFCC’s capacity to manage recovered assets scattered across different parts of the country, including those under interim and final forfeiture. With limited manpower to physically secure such assets, he said the deployment of geospatial technology and asset-tagging devices would provide a more efficient and transparent monitoring system.
The EFCC Chairman also noted that the synergy would be particularly valuable in the investigation and prosecution of illegal mining activities, which have been linked to insecurity in parts of the country. He said the use of satellite and geospatial technology would help identify hard-to-reach locations where illegal activities are taking place.
In his remarks, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NASRDA, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, welcomed the partnership, describing the MoU as a landmark in the pursuit of justice, regulatory compliance and national security.
Dr. Adepoju stressed that space-based assets and technologies must be properly regulated, noting that some satellite resources are being misused to fuel insecurity and illegal activities. He said the collaboration with the EFCC would help ensure that operators across the upstream, mainstream and downstream segments of the space sector comply with Nigerian laws.
He further highlighted that research findings have linked illegal mining to rising insecurity, making it imperative for NASRDA to work closely with law enforcement agencies. According to him, there is no better partner for this task than the EFCC, given its mandate and track record.
Dr. Adepoju commended the EFCC’s leadership for its efficiency and tangible results, assuring that NASRDA would fully deploy its regulatory, spectrum management and technological expertise to support the success of the partnership.
He identified key areas of collaboration to include asset management, asset tracking and the geo-tagging of both movable and immovable assets.
The EFCC–NASRDA partnership is expected to serve as a model for inter-agency collaboration, promoting innovation, accountability and a more coordinated approach to tackling economic crimes and insecurity in Nigeria.
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