Ekpe John Parry Peter
State Correspondent
It would be recalled that in August 2023, the Niger State Government announced the banning of all forms of mining activities in the state. But, it seems the announcements by the state government triggered more engagements of these miners as more families and residents got engaged in the activities due to the current economic hardship in the country.
Our investigations show that the state government may have to scale up her efforts and commitments in the fight against this illegal activities or loose out as more people are being recruited daily and the miners determine to continue mining against the state government order.
Recently, when the state government called for profiling of all registered mining companies in the state in August, 2024, it was reported that only 261 reported for profiling out of 880 registered mining companies made up of 578 companies and 392 cooperatives in the state.
Abdullahi Mohammed age 21 from Kano when interviewed confirmed to us that he made between 18,000 to 25,000 each time he goes out to mine and that mining has become a major economic advantage for him and his family.
A visit to one of the mining sites in the Minna City Centre this morning 13/11/2024 confirms that mining activities still hold sway as lots of people, (youth, women and children) were seen engaging in the mining exercise. When interviewed off camera, Ibrahim confirmed to us that he is not in school because he needed to make money to take care of his family and that each time the task force comes after them, they would run away and return afterwards.
Undoubtedly, the activities of these miners whom the state government has not been able to have control over have posed serious insecurity challenges and environmental degradation to the residents and the host communities respectively. As these youths are found at all time of the day and at night with pans, shovels and cutlasses moving unabated.
Residents in communities where these illegal activities take place now live in fear for being attacked by these youths at the slightest misunderstanding. Farm lands are being over taking by the mining activities and the youths are resolute not to vacate the site daring the state government that since the government can not make life meaningful they have resolve to help themselves and their families.
This is an urgent call to the Niger State government to intensify her efforts to permanently combat this menace before it erode our peaceful coexistence.
