CAPPA elects Rafsanjani as Board Chair

• Warns solid minerals growth comes with land grabs, displacements, and environmental harm

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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has appointed Auwal Musa Rafsanjani as the new Chairman of its Advisory Board following its election over the weekend.

Recognised as a prominent Nigerian civil rights advocate, Rafsanjani’s leadership is expected to energise CAPPA’s mission to defend public resources, democratic spaces, and citizens’ rights across Nigeria and Africa, according to a statement issued by Executive Director, CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi.

Rafsanjani, who also serves as Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and heads Transparency International Nigeria, brings over 30 years of experience in anti-corruption, human rights, and legislative advocacy.

He chairs Amnesty International Nigeria’s Board of Trustees and leads coalitions such as the Zero Corruption Coalition and Say No Campaign. His influence extends on the global stage, having represented Sub-Saharan Africa on the UN Convention Against Corruption Civil Society Coalition.

CAPPA highlighted that Rafsanjani’s tenure comes at a critical time as civic freedoms contract, state assets face commercialisation, and communities confront both economic exclusion and environmental risks.

Besides Rafsanjani, the Advisory Board comprises experienced figures including Executive Director Oluwafemi, Treasurer Evelyn Bassey, and activists Scott Pegg, Kayode Ogunbunmi, Betty Abah, and Doifie Buokoribo, who collectively strengthen CAPPA’s capacity in environmental and policy advocacy.

In his remarks, Rafsanjani stressed his commitment to positioning CAPPA as an unwavering watchdog protecting public interests. He identified core focus areas such as public health advocacy, environmental protection, extractive justice, democratic rights, and public service defence, pledging enhanced strategic direction and institutional support.

The board also raised serious concerns about Nigeria’s expanding solid minerals sector. It cautioned that while the sector’s GDP contribution has grown from under 0.5% to 4.6% in a decade, this growth accompanies land grabs, forced community displacements, environmental damage, and a resurgence of exploitative concession politics.

The board warned Nigeria risks replicating the Niger Delta’s devastation—where oil wealth enriched the nation but ruined ecosystems and livelihoods—unless the government ensures stringent regulations, community consent, and transparent governance. The statement underscored that without equitable sharing of benefits, there can be no just transition.

CAPPA urged policymakers to adopt a people-centred resource management approach that respects land, water, culture, and livelihoods beyond mere investment assets. It called on Nigerians to critically evaluate development models that enrich a few while harming many.

Reaffirming its purpose, CAPPA committed to broadening alliances with labour, grassroots groups, women, youth, and community defenders continent-wide, emphasising that public accountability demands a unified, collective struggle.