Representatives call for government intervention against illegal mining

In an effort to stop illicit mining, the House of Representatives requested on Wednesday, November 8, that the federal government, or FG, proclaim a state of emergency throughout the nation.

In order to carry out a massive operation to expel all illegal miners, the House further asked that the Federal Government establish a special security task force made up of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Immigration, and Civil Defence.

The House said that the government should make a special intervention in the 2024 budget estimates to provide for the establishment of Mineral Monitoring and Inspection Offices equipped with qualified manpower and equipment/infrastructure in the 109 senatorial districts of the nation. The motion was sponsored by Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi Halims, the deputy leader of the House.

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Halims emphasised to the House the substantial economic potential of Nigeria’s solid mineral sector in bolstering the growth and diversification of the nation’s income stream.

According to him, Nigeria is endowed with abundant natural resources that are mainly unexplored and underutilised, but they have the potential to be extremely valuable in terms of economic diversification, job creation, and revenue production.

He stated that in order to solve the problems afflicting the solid minerals industry and its underperformance, as highlighted by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2022 report, there was an urgent need for concentrated intervention and drastic measures.

According to him, the NEITI report estimated that the solid mining sector contributed N1.63 trillion, or 0.63 percent, to the government’s overall revenue and N1.10 trillion, or 2.62 percent to GDP.

He acknowledged the negative effects illegal mining activities have on the environment, national security, and economic progress, and he voiced worry about the problems now plaguing the solid mineral sector.

He said that the nation’s use of its natural resources was being hampered by unreported and illegal mining operations, which were costing the government $9 billion a year and only receiving 3% of the royalties from a small number of licenced miners.

Halims also voiced concern about the detrimental effects of illicit mining, which have exacerbated already-existing political and social tensions in the impacted areas by causing instability, fights over control of mining sites and their resources, and violent outbursts.

He stated that in order to safeguard host communities and control mining operations in their states, the governors of Taraba, Benue, and Nasarawa States have signed Executive Orders outlawing unlawful mining due to the rise in illicit mining and other criminal activity that negatively impacts host communities.

For the sake of the Nigerian economy and its people, he added, the Federal Government had to act immediately and forcefully to revitalise and develop this essential industry.