Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen on Monday attributed about 80 percent of the current insecurity in the North Western part of the country to activities of illegal miners.
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The Speaker however lamented that despite the benefit that should have accrued to the communities, they have continued to live in abject poverty and deprivation, stressing that the time to act is now.
Speaking at the commencement of an investigative hearing on the activities of illegal mining in the solid minerals sector in the country, the Speaker said Illegal mining activity has become a growing socio-economic challenge in Nigeria which has led to the loss of ecosystems and increased poverty levels especially among peasant farmers who depend solely on environmental resources for a living.
The Speaker said while Nigeria is richly blessed with solid minerals deposits which should bring great fortune to the country and the citizens, the wealth from solid minerals has largely been stolen by criminal elements.
He said available reports indicate that an estimated 80% of mining in the North West region is carried out illegally with the mining of largely untapped mineral deposits in the area at the root of community violence.
The Speaker expressed concern that the various mining communities in Nigeria are living in agonizing conditions, economically and socially, arising from years of neglect, deprivations and severe environmental degradation, air and water pollution, arising from unsafe mining practices by illegal miners.
He said that the impact of the unprecedented illegal mining across Nigeria has been devastating as farmlands, crops and economic trees are not only destroyed by mining activities but reduced their benefit and value to the residents.
He said the rise in illegal mining in the country highlights fundamental social, institutional and structural problems in the country, adding that the interaction is aimed at providing enough guidance on curbing the menace of illegal mining and also assessing the role played by the Regulators in the process of their regulatory functions in the particularly as it relates to mining practices.
He said the decision of the House to investigate illegal mining shows its commitment and determination to take decisive steps towards addressing nefarious mining practices and the non-compliance with set standards in the solid minerals sector, including the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act (Amendment) Bill and the Nigeria Solid Mineral Development Company (Establishment) Bill which are currently before the House, and for which a Public Hearing will be held on 17th July 2024.
Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi said the country was losing over $9 billion annually from the activities of illegal miners, adding that the only money coming into government coffers from the sector is the3 percent royalty paid by a few of the licensed miners.
Gbefwi said illegal mining poses substantial risks to the nation’s economy, environment, and security, adding that the unregulated exploitation of the natural resources in the country jeopardizes the sustainability of the mineral sector, leading to environmental degradation and revenue loss that could otherwise benefit our communities and nation as a whole.
He said: “It is imperative that we take as a matter of urgency, decisive steps and necessary action to address this issue and ensure that our solid mineral sector operates within the framework of the law, protecting our natural resources for future generations.
“As representatives of the people, the parliament is deeply worried about the loss of revenue through unregulated and illicit mining operations with the Federal 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 development as you all know, hampers the country’s ability to maximize the benefits from its mineral resources. There is also the grave concern 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 thereby exacerbating existing political and social tensions in affected communities which has resulted in the limited data availability and inadequate measures to control this illicit practice”.
He said that the public hearing serves as a valuable platform for collecting insights, information, and recommendations from stakeholders, experts, and affected communities, adding that its time to collaborate and take immediate and decisive actions to revitalize and develop this critical sector for the overall benefit of all Nigerians.
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