The House of Representatives has moved to declare a state of emergency in the Mining sector with regards to illegal mining.
The House urged the Nigerian Government to make special intervention in the 2024 budget to provide for the establishment of Minerals monitoring and inspection offices equipped with qualified manpower and equipment/ infrastructure in the 109 senatorial districts of the country.
The moves were sequel to a motion on the Urgent Need To Investigate Illegal Mining In The Solid Mineral Sector, moved by Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims.
The motion said; “The House Notes the significant economic potential of Nigeria’s Solid mineral sector in contributing to the country’s development and expansion of revenue base;
“Aware of the vast mineral resources in Nigeria that remain largely untapped and underutilized which can play the critical role of the solid mineral sector in diversifying the economy, creating jobs, and boosting revenue generation.”
It said that “the House is aware of the urgent need for focused intervention and radical measures to address the issues affecting the solid mineral sector and its underperformance referring to the NEITTI 2022 report which states that the mining sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, was 0.63 percent or N1.10 trillion.”
In terms of contribution to government revenue, the report disclosed the Solid minerals sector contributed just 2.62 percent of the government’s N6.63 trillion total revenue.
The Motion said; “The House is Concerned about the ongoing challenges bedeviling the solid mineral sector which are a result of illegal mining activities and acknowledging the detrimental impact they have on the environment, national security, and economic growth; Worried about the loss of revenue through unregulated and illicit mining operations with the Nigerian Government disclosing that unlawful mining costs the country $9bn each year, with the only money coming from a 3 percent royalty paid by the few licensed miners.
“This hampers the country’s ability to maximize the benefits from its mineral resources; Also Worried about the negative impacts of illegal mining which has led to insecurity and conflicts over control of mining sites and their resources. These conflicts have escalated into violence by exacerbating existing political and social tensions in affected communities;
Cognizant of the fact that as a result of the high spate of illegal mining and other criminal activities affecting host communities.
“Governors of Taraba, Benue, and Nasarawa States have signed Executive Orders banning illegal mining in their respective states to protect host communities and regulate mining activities in their respective states;
Recognizes that the time is now, for the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive actions to revitalize and develop this critical sector for the overall benefit of the Nigerian economy and its citizens,” the motion said.
The House resolved to set up a special security task for a 2-year life span comprising the Military, DSS, Immigration, Civil Defence, and the Mines Police to embark on a sweeping exercise to flush out all illegal miners.
It also mandated the Committee on Solid Minerals to ensure compliance.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
