By CAROLINE AMEH
ABUJA – Nigeria loses about N41.1 billion every year to illegal mining, a menace stakeholders said is not only draining the economy but also fuelling insecurity across the country.
The warning came on Wednesday at a Media Parley and Workshop on Illegal Mining: The Role of the Media, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, in Abuja.
NUJ FCT Chairperson, Comrade Grace Ike, described illegal mining as a national crisis threatening the economy, environment, and security, urging journalists to serve as “catalysts for change” by investigating, exposing, and educating the public on its dangers.
“As gatekeepers of truth and agents of accountability, our duty goes beyond mere reportage. We must investigate, expose, and educate the public on the devastating effects of illegal mining, particularly on host communities and water resources,” she said.
She assured that the NUJ would continue amplifying the voices of affected communities while working with security agencies, civil society, and government institutions to promote sustainable mining practices.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, warned that illegal mining was directly linked to banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes, adding that criminal cartels involved had links with organised networks.
“Illegal mining robs our nation of vital resources. It is directly linked to insecurity in states like Zamfara, Niger, and even parts of the FCT. NEITI has estimated losses from illegal mining and gold smuggling at about $9 billion annually, draining foreign exchange and tax revenues,” he said.
Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC A.J. Onoja, called for broader collaboration, stressing that illegal mining had cost Nigeria billions, destroyed farmlands, and worsened local conflicts.
“The fight cannot be won by enforcement agencies alone, but through a coalition that includes government, industry players, communities, and, most importantly, the media,” he said.
He hailed reforms under President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and NSCDC Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, noting that the Mining Marshals were already dismantling illegal camps and prosecuting offenders despite challenges such as hostile terrains and smear campaigns.
The President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Dele Ayanleke, lamented that illegal operators were discouraging genuine investors, urging stronger enforcement of mining laws and closer collaboration with the media.
Participants at the workshop highlighted the wider costs of illegal mining, including revenue leakages, water pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss, child labour, unsafe mining practices, and rising insecurity in mineral-rich communities.
The parley, themed “Sustaining the Fight Against Illegal Mining: The Role of the Media,” ended with a call for stronger partnerships between journalists, security agencies, and civil society to protect Nigeria’s natural wealth.
