Illegal mining digging into Nigeria’s wealth
Several states in the country are blessed with a lot of natural resources which if properly exploited, could enhance the present administration’s economic diversification drives and reduce overdependence on oil revenue. There is hardly any state that does not have one mineral resource or the other tucked in its shores, but sadly, largely unitilised.
Kwara State for instance, which will soon turn 50, is blessed with gold, crude oil and waterfalls, just to mention a view. But beside the economic gap created by the improper exploitation of these resources is the menace of illegal mining, which thrives in many parts of the state.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that illegal miners are backed by some influential people in the society, thus making their prosecution difficult after arrest.
Some staff of the state Ministry of Mines and Steel Development recently got a lead on illegal mining in various locations where gold ore was discovered. This was followed by raids on some illegal mining sites.
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state recently arrested five illegal miners and recovered over 70 bags of gold ore at a mining site at Odonigi village in Moro Local Government Area.
Officials of the NSCDC said they spent several hours in the bush before arresting Mohammed Yahya, Mohammed Joffa, Aremu Rasaq and Aliyu Ndagi while their leader, Engineer Mumini Usman, was arrested in llorin.
Over 70 bags of gold ore which is also known as crude gold, tantalite, 10 motorcycles, rifles, charms and implements used for digging were retrieved from the site. The Head of Solid Minerals Department at the NSCDC, Assistant Commander Omotayo Olubunmi who led the team, said the operation was to protect the state’s natural resources. He advised those interested in mining to approach the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals for licence before embarking on such activities in any part of the state.
The Federal Mines Officer in charge of Kwara, Engineer Hussein Toyin-Ahmed, also said mining activity at Odonigi was illegal and advised interested miners to obtain genuine licence before embarking on mining business.
The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Pedro ldeba, described illegal mining as economic sabotage which attracts punishment.
He said the command had received many reports on illegal mining and miners with sophisticated weapons, adding that recently, one person was killed at a mining site in the state.
He noted that illegal mining was synonymous with bunkering and vandalism which are organized crimes and warned that if not urgently checked, might lead to crisis of worse dimension.
The commandant noted that Kura under Yahsikira Emirate in Baruten Local Government Area of the state had the highest record of illegal mining in Africa. He said the illegal miners were sabotaging the efforts of the federal government at revamping the nation’s economy.
“The command will not allow illegal mining in any parts of the state by anybody or group of people no matter how highly placed,” he warned.
The community, according to the commandant, shares borders with Benin Republic while foreigners are aided by Nigerians to carry out illegal mining activities in the area had already taken over the whole community, assisted by hoodlums wielding sophisticated weapons. He lamented that this is causing a great economic loss to Nigeria to the advantage of her neighbours.
While noting that mining is the prerogative of the federal government, he said states also have a role to play in the sector.
“We have heard a lot of complaints about illegal mining activities in Kwara State and if the state government can harness these economic potentials, it would be good for the state,” he said.
Pedro urged the state government, KWACCIMA and other authorities concerned to look into the activities of unlicensed miners operating in the state, particularly in the local government areas that share borders with neighbouring countries.
In her reaction, the Kwara State Commissioner for Mines and Steel, Alhaja Funmilayo Oniwa, said the state was not empowered to carry out mining activities because it is on the exclusive list of the federal government while the proposed law to domesticate mining is still in the pipeline.
Sharp practices, irregularities beset mining in Bauchi
With over 36 identified minerals in commercial quantities in Bauchi State, the state trails its closest neighbour, mineral-rich Plateau in terms of commercial mining activities.
There is at least one mineral in commercial quantity in almost every community in the state, implying that the state sits on huge deposits of mineral resources.
Documents obtained by Daily Trust have shown that various mineral deposits and gemstones are found in all the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State.
Kaolin is found in abundance in Alkaleri, Misau, Darazo, Kirfi, Bogoro and Gamawa while Tin is found in Toro and Ningi. Various precious stones are found in Bauchi, Alkaleri, Toro, Ganjuwa and Shira and Tale is found in Misau and Tafawa Balewa local government areas.
Quartz is found in Toro, Bauchi, Alkaleri, Ganjuwa, Dass and Bogoro. Iron Ore is found in Toror and Katagum while Gypsum is present in commercial quantity in Darazo. Laterite is available in Katagum and Zaki. Silica Sand is found in Misau and Dambam, Feldspar I Tafawa Balewa and Dass while Galena (Lead Zinc) is