Nigeria’s Crackdown on Illegal Mining Pays Off with Significant Revenue Boost
In a major win for the Nigerian government, the country’s mining sector has seen a substantial increase in revenue, jumping from a paltry N6 billion to over N38 billion within a year. This significant boost is attributed to the establishment of the Mining Marshals, an enforcement arm of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), tasked with addressing illegal mining activities across the country.
Speaking at a recent media parley and workshop organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, revealed that the outfit’s efforts have led to the dismantling of illegal camps, prosecution of offenders, and restoration of order in volatile mining corridors. Onoja emphasized that the campaign against illegal mining is crucial to national survival, stating, “Nigeria’s mineral wealth belongs to all Nigerians – not to be plundered by a few.”
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ajao Adewale, also shed light on the issue, describing illegal mining as one of Nigeria’s most significant national security threats. According to Adewale, the country loses an estimated $9 billion (N13.7 trillion) annually to illegal mining and gold smuggling. He pointed out that powerful Nigerians are behind these operations, using foreigners as fronts to fund banditry and terrorism.
Onoja cautioned the media against biased or compromised reportage, warning that illegal mining cartels are sponsoring “rogue journalism” to discredit enforcement efforts. He called on the media to partner with the government in the fight against illegal mining, urging them to conduct investigative journalism that exposes financiers, amplifies community voices, and pressures policymakers.
National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dele Ayanleke, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that corruption, poverty, and weak governance sustain illegal mining. Ayanleke stressed that sustained attention, particularly from the media, is necessary to dismantle these cartels and bring perpetrators to justice.
Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike, charged journalists to take the fight beyond ordinary reportage, emphasizing the need for balanced reporting that exposes the devastating effects of illegal mining on communities and the environment. Ike highlighted the importance of empowering citizens with information, enabling them to demand better regulatory oversight and environmental protections.
As the country continues to grapple with the consequences of illegal mining, the significant revenue boost following the establishment of the Mining Marshals offers a glimmer of hope. The onus is now on the government, the media, and other stakeholders to sustain this momentum, working together to dismantle the cartels and ensure that Nigeria’s mineral wealth benefits all its citizens, not just a privileged few.
