Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have raised alarms over the alleged involvement of powerful elites in illegal mining activities, accusing them of exploiting Nigeria’s mineral resources for personal gain.
The stakeholders made these claims during an interview with Newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, warning that the trend could jeopardize President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda, which aims to boost the solid minerals sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The allegations come in the wake of recent claims by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, who accused retired military officers of engaging in illegal mining. According to Oshiomhole, these individuals use sophisticated machinery, procure arms, and even deploy helicopters to transport minerals out of the country, earning billions of dollars in the process. He further alleged that the weapons acquired to secure mining sites are also used for banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.
Philip Dakpor, Executive Director of Renevyln Development Initiative (RDI), echoed these concerns, stating that powerful interests are behind the illegal mining operations, depriving Nigeria of much-needed revenue. “There is no doubt that powerful interests are behind illegal mining across the country, so Comrade Adams Oshiomhole may be right in pointing fingers. However, his allegations lack the political will needed to address the issue,” Dakpor said.
He added, “This is because he said the perpetrators are known yet no names were mentioned, and no one has been arrested. If those behind the menace are known and can’t be named and arrested, then it shows something even deeper. It is either collusion at certain quarters in government or total negligence, but I suspect it is collusion. Some people in government are benefiting maximally from illegal mining and so choose not to halt the practice.”
Dr. Abdullahi Jabi, an activist and Chairman of the North Central Zone, Campaign for Democracy, Human Rights Advocacy, Civil Society of Nigeria, also weighed in, alleging that traditional rulers are complicit in the illegal mining activities. He claimed that these leaders collaborate with expatriates and local communities to exploit the nation’s mineral wealth.
“These activities have been on over the years, and the government did not pay attention to it until it escalated with illegal expatriates coming to the country with machinery,” Jabi said. “They are using residents and citizens within those communities, who show them the way, and then connive with traditional rulers to perpetrate these wounds against the states.”
Jabi described the situation as a complex network involving high-ranking individuals, emphasizing that poor governance, weak leadership, and economic challenges have made the sector vulnerable to exploitation. “It is a network that is critical to destroy. It’s not as easy as you see it because the high and mighty are behind it,” he said.
He further explained, “This is because a poor man, who cannot feed, who has no energy, cannot go to exploration of mineral resources that is almost 200 or 500 miles into the mother earth. Who will give him the equipment? Who will provide him with security to do that?”
To address the issue, Jabi called for a comprehensive legal framework and adequate logistics to enable the government to implement stricter measures. He stressed the need to prioritize the nation’s interests over the profits of a few individuals exploiting the country’s resources.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, had previously highlighted the link between illegal mining and banditry during the ministry’s 2023 budget defense. He revealed that efforts are underway to identify and address the perpetrators using both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.
As the allegations continue to mount, the CSOs have urged the government to take decisive action to curb illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s mineral wealth for the benefit of all citizens.
