The House of Representatives has begun investigation into the scale and patterns of illegal mineral exploitation across Nigeria.
This was discussed at a High-level Stakeholders Workshop On Extractive Industry Governance organised by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee On Mineral Exploitation, Security And Anti-money Laundering, in Abuja.
While declaring the event open, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Tajudeen Abbas noted that the assignment given to the Ad-Hoc committee is probably one of the most important in the country.
He said that for two long unpatriotic elements have been exploiting Nigeria’s vast mineral endowment.
He also said that their actions have robbed the country and undermines its sovereignty.
“Nigeria cannot achieve economic diversification, fiscal stability or job creation if the sector that should be a second revenue pillar is bleeding from illegality and obesity,” Mr. Tajudeen said.
He noted that the objectives of this workshop includes to extract credible information, evidence and extract recommendation from regulators, security agencies and operators in the extractive sector.
He stressed that the House must be guided before it legislates.
“This is not an inquisition, it is a partnership, withhold nothing, speak plainly, profer solutions. The success of this intervention depends on the quality information we receive and the sincerity of purpose we all bring to this room,” he said.
The Chairman, House Of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee On Mineral Exploitation, Security And Anti-money Laundering, Sanni Abdulraheem said that House is also to examine whether laws and regulatory institutions are equipped to close illegal gaps once and for all.
He also said that the Ad-Hoc committee is to trace the financial trails that allow proceeds of illegality to be concealed, moved, and laundered as well as to assess whether the security architecture around mining communities is fit for purpose.
“Nigeria is blessed. Few nations on earth carry the range and richness of mineral deposits that lie across our states gold, lithium, tin, coal, tantalite, and many more. On paper, these resources should be transforming livelihoods, funding schools and hospitals, and strengthening our national economy. Yet, for too long, a troubling gap has persisted between the wealth in our ground and the prosperity in our communities.
” That gap has a name: illegal mining, weak enforcement, and the laundering of proceeds that should belong to the Nigerian people. It is a gap filled instead by criminal networks, by revenue leakages we can no longer afford to ignore, and by security threats that have, in some of our communities, turned mineral-rich land into contested and dangerous territory.
” In the course of our work, we have held sittings, engaged relevant agencies, and, where cooperation fell short of what the moment demands, we have not hesitated to issue summons. We do this not out of confrontation, but out of conviction because oversight without candour achieves nothing, and reform without accurate information is guesswork dressed as policy.
” What has become clear to us is this: no single agency, no single arm of government, and certainly no single committee of this House can resolve this crisis alone. The illegal mining challenge sits at the intersection of law, security, finance, community livelihood, and governance. It requires all of us regulators, security agencies, financial intelligence institutions, state governments, traditional institutions, licensed operators, and civil society – pulling in the same direction,” Mr. Abdulraheem said.
He commended the security agencies, including the NSCDC and the Mining Marshals for protecting Nigeria’s resources.
“We must understand your capacity gaps honestly, so that we can recommend the support and reform you genuinely need.
“Illicit proceeds do not vanish they move through accounts, shell arrangements, and cross-border channels that can be traced with the right tools and the right political will. We look to your expertise to help this Committee and the nation close those channels,” he said.
The chairman also noted that the submissions, data, and perspectives stakeholders share with will directly inform the report the Committee will present to the House.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps says its Mining Marshals have arrested more than 671 illegal mining suspects across the country, with 397 already charged to court as part of efforts to curb illegal mining.
Speaking at the stakeholders workshop, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, who represented the Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, said the Corps has dismantled several illegal mining sites, while improved enforcement has boosted government revenue and investor confidence.
He identified inadequate logistics, limited manpower, judicial delays and interference by criminal syndicates as major challenges, calling for increased funding, better surveillance and designated courts for mining-related offences.
