The Federation of Nigerian Mining Host Communities in conjunction with Civil Society Coalition on Nigeria’s Mining Sector have called for speedy prosecution of those arrested for illegal mining activities in different parts of Nigeria.
Last week, Nigeria’s security personnel in collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals had arrested 19 illegal foreign gold miners and 21 Nigerians for their illegal mining activities in Osun and Zamfara states.
In a press statement made available to journalists by the coalition on Wednesday in Abuja, impunity in the mining sector continues to hinder its development.
“We however note with dismay, the preferential treatment of the foreign culprits, and news reports of undue pressure on the Hon. Minister of Mines and Steel Development Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite by “godfathers” to release the Chinese culprits, and dismiss the case. Impunity has engendered corruption in Nigeria, and as found in other sectors of the economy, frustrated attempts at developing the mining sector in Nigeria. This must stop.
“While it is true that until recently, hydrocarbons have been the core source of revenue from Nigeria’s extractive sector, the solid mineral sector, which now holds an even stronger potential to substantially contribute to the development of the nation’s economy, continues to suffer monumental revenue leakages due to decades of failure to strengthen institutional oversight of the sector, leading to the lack of transparency and accountability.
According to the group, Nigeria hemorrhages about $1.54 billion annually from illegal gold exploitation alongside other revenues and royalties that could have been remitted from the unaccounted mining and smuggling of other minerals and metals.
“We therefore hold the ederal government to their pledge to ensure the prosecution of all suspects of illegal mining in the country, and call for a full and immediate investigation of each case, and where found culpable, the arrest and prosecution of their ‘godfathers’ and enablers.
“The government’s efforts must not end with just knee-jerked arrests and prosecution of foreign illegal miners, it must include concerted efforts to ensure that the avenues through which solid minerals are ferried out of Nigeria without due process are blocked. In addition to ensuring an end to the thriving illicit trade within, and smuggling of solid minerals out of Nigeria, government policies should promote the beneficiation of such minerals in order to enhance their value, and promote fiscal maximization of the sector.
“More particularly, we ask that the government fulfil its obligations of ensuring the reform of Nigeria’s Minerals and Mining Act and other extant regulations to conform to the ECOWAS mining directive in order to holistically develop the sector.
“We also use this opportunity to reiterate our call for the expedited upgrade of the capacity of the Mining Cadastral Office to ensure even greater levels transparency in the beneficial ownership of mining companies and affiliated matters.
“As mining host communities bear the environmental and economic brunt of the unregulated activities of these miscreants, we make a special call to include civil society actors and representatives of mining host communities in the composition of each state’s Mineral Resources and Environmental Committees (MIREMCO) to ensure a function – friendly protection of the rights of mining host states and effective synergies between states and the federal government.
While we condemn illegal mining activities, we call on government to ensure the creation of a level playing field for local investors through the promotion and capacity building of local mining cooperatives, and the facilitation of credit systems for them,” the statement read.
While urging the FG to diversify the economy post- Covid Nigeria, the group stressed the need for blocking of leakages in our economy through nepotism, godfatherism and corruption must end.
Those who signed the statement includes: Federation of Nigerian Mining Host Community (Zamfara and Osun state Chapters); Global Rights; Women in Mining; Praxis Centre; Centre for Community Excellence (CENCEX-Zamfara); SilverChip Fox; Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy; Follow the Money; CSR-In-Action among others.
