Jugu Samuel, aged 31, once thrived as a tin miner in Barkin Ladi, Nigeria, but now works in an electronics shop, reflecting the decline of the local tin mining industry. The ease of accessing tin has diminished significantly, leading many local miners to abandon their work as supplies dwindle. Amidst growing global demand for tin, arising from the clean energy transition, Nigeria struggles with the impacts of illegal mining and poor regulation.
Despite being the ninth-largest tin producer globally, contributing nearly 3% of the supply, the country faces severe shortages, as reported by local miners and suppliers. Esther Chattong, a local mineral buyer, highlighted that her monthly supply has plummeted from 4,000 kg to 500 kg due to illegal extraction and depletion of viable mining sites.
Mining practices remain rudimentary and unsafe, with many miners lacking the necessary skills and equipment to extract effectively. President Bola Tinubu has linked ongoing violence in northern Nigeria to illegal mining practices. Estimates indicate that illegal mining costs Nigeria roughly $10 billion annually.
To counteract these challenges, experts like Dauda Garuba of the Centre for Democracy and Development call for easier regulation to formally legalise artisanal mining. The government has recently recruited mining marshals to enforce laws and has made arrests to combat illicit activities hindering the sector’s growth.
As the supply of tin continues to decline, suppliers struggle to meet demands from companies, exacerbated by local conflicts and inadequate tools. Mr Mapak, a local supplier, lamented the drastic drop in available minerals, which he attributes to exhausted resources and instability in the region. Furthermore, a lack of reliable geological data for mineral resources complicates Nigeria’s ability to manage and exploit its mining potential effectively.
Jugu Samuel expresses longing for his former life as a miner, uncertain about the future of tin mining and what lies ahead for the industry.