The Nigerian Government has revealed that the activities of illegal artisanal miners in Nigeria’s mining industry are causing significant revenue losses. Dr Mary Ogbe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, expressed her concerns during the inauguration of the new National Executive Council of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Abuja. She highlighted that some members of the association prefer to engage in illegal mining activities instead of working together to develop the sector. Dr Ogbe emphasized that this behavior has hindered the sustainable development of the mining industry and has resulted in substantial revenue losses. She urged the association’s leadership to advise its members to refrain from illegal mining activities and to collaborate with the ministry to ensure compliance with the sector’s regulations.
Dr Ogbe also raised concerns about local industries relying on imported minerals as raw materials, despite the availability of these minerals in Nigeria. She noted that some minerals are being exported in their raw form to Asian and European countries at extremely low prices, without adding any value. This practice not only contributes to the country’s unemployment rate but also hampers its overall development.
Alhaji Sani Shehu, the Chairman of the Board of Trustee (BOT), called on all levels of government to work with the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) to achieve the sector’s objectives. He emphasized that certain mining industries are heavily involved in illegal mining and that government support is crucial in curbing this menace. Additionally, he urged MAN to support the government in raising awareness among artisanal miners and ensuring their operations are regulated.
Mrs Chibuzo Oguche, the Chief Superintendent of the Import and Export Unit at the Tariff and Trade Department of the Nigeria Customs Service, expressed the service’s readiness to collaborate with MAN. She highlighted the importance of tracking illegal miners through the database of registered miners.
In other news, the Nigerian Senate recently discussed a bill aimed at establishing a Solid Minerals Development Commission and prohibiting foreigners from engaging in artisanal mining. Senator Mohammed Onawo of Nasarawa South sponsored the bill, citing the need to address the issue of illegal mining by foreigners in the country. The bill, titled ‘Solid Minerals Development Commission,’ aims to unify and improve the management of solid minerals in Nigeria.
It is evident that the activities of illegal artisanal miners pose significant challenges to Nigeria’s mining sector. The government, along with the Miners Association of Nigeria, must work together to combat illegal mining and ensure the sustainable development of the industry.