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Tag: illegal mining

  • Enugu govt begins shutting of illegal mining sites

    Enugu govt begins shutting of illegal mining sites

    Enugu State Government has said it has begun sealing off of illegal mining sites and those without environmental impact certifications and mitigation plans.

    Prof. Sam Ugwu, the chairman, Enugu State Committee on Mining Activities, said this when the committee visited a site, owned by Milhouse Ltd. in Awhum, Udi Local Government.

    Governor Peter Mbah had in June, banned illegal mining in the state and also set up the Enugu State Committee on Mining Activities on September 15 to checkmate the menace.

    Addressing reporters after a firsthand inspection of mining activities at the site, Ugwu who is the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, said there were more various infringements ranging from environmental degradation to blasting without approval and due regulations.

    According to him, the miners are suspected to be involved in non-remittance of staff tax and pension contributions to the state government in spite of deducting them from the workers.

    He said the government would not fold its arms and watch the environment destroyed and lives endangered.

     “Our mission is basically to seal, on behalf of the state government, mining activities that do not have any recourse to the state government.

    “We are also here to look at what is going on and you have all seen a lot of environmental degradation going on.

    “We equally want to see the veracity of the licence, which they claim they have and to find out how they have been remitting their environmental fees to Enugu State Government.

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    “Importantly, we want to find out the mitigating plans they have in place. We are very much interested in what happens to these host communities and their environs many years after these miners have closed shop,” Ugwu said.

    He added: “If you take a look at the Niger Delta, the people are still suffering greatly from environmental degradation caused by oil exploration activities of many decades ago.

    “Enugu powered the industries of Europe and beyond at some point through this same coal. Today, our environment is still bearing the scars and brunt of those mining activities. So, we will not fold our arms and watch that happen all over again.”

    He faulted the claim by the operators of the site that they started mining in 2022, saying “from all indications, this site has been in operation for more than five years”.

    He stressed that the government was very much aware of other mining sites in different parts of the state operating illegally and without licence or falling foul of environmental protection laws and regulations, assuring that government would go after them.

    The commissioner also served a notice on African Pits and Quarries Ltd to stop operations immediately and report to the Government House on September 21.

    “Sequel to the directive of the Governor of Enugu State banning illegal mining activities in the state, you are hereby warned to desist and stop all mining activities in this environment.

    “Your failure to comply strictly as directed may lead to your arrest and prosecution in the state Environmental Protection Court,” Ugwu said.

    He also ordered them as a matter of urgency, to furnish the office with comprehensive list including approval licence from the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office and evidence of notification letter to Enugu State Ministry of Environment before commencement of operations, among others.

    The General Manager in charge of Operations at the site, Akintola Oluwafemi, while assuring that the company would comply with government directives, said the firm obtained all necessary licences from the Federal Government.

     Oluwafemi added that they were mindful of environment in their operations.

  • Four Chinese, 16 Nigerians held for illegal mining in Ebonyi

    Four Chinese, 16 Nigerians held for illegal mining in Ebonyi

    Four Chinese nationals and 16 Nigerians have been arrested at a mining site in Echara Unuphu, Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, for illegal mining.

    Their arrest was at the instance of the Ebonyi State Government.

    Senior Special Adviser to Governor David Umahi on Internal Security, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala, described their actions as “shocking”.

    He said the miners did not follow best practices in their activities and were creating environmental and security problems to the state.

    According to Ugbala, the miners dug a deep tunnel which they may be using for other illegal activities

    He said: “The future of this state is at stake because of the activities of these illegal miners. I was in China recently and I know that the Chinese don’t temper with their environment no matter the problem.

    “With the type of problem created here in the name of mining, it is possible that this tunnel they created may lead to the Government House and other places.

    “So, what do we expect? A total collapse! When we are living up here, another road is underground in the name of mining. There is no society, environment or state that this type of thing is seen. It’s not as if they pay IGR, and what type of IGR will be more important than the future of our children and the people. We will fish-out all these people.”

    One of the suspects, Nnamdi Peter, who hails from Enugu State, said he has worked in the mining tunnel for three months.

    He said: “In the first place, I don’t know this is illegal mining. If it is illegal, I wouldn’t have been working here. The company should have carried out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with NESRA before embarking on this type of mining.”

    The Chinese men refused to speak to reporters, and only gesticulated with their hands that they don’t speak or understand English.

  • Crackdown on illegal mining

    With over one thousand illegal mining sites in the country, the illicit activity has continued to be a major challenge to Nigeria.

    Nigeria, which is abundantly blessed with various solid minerals had not been able to properly harness them for the benefit of the nation.

    Despite the sector not been able to make any significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the illegal mining had channeled substantially, the goods from the sector abroad.

    As a result, Nigeria was said to be losing $1.54 billion annually to illegal miners of gold alone.

    For the years 2014 and 2015, Nigeria was said to have lost $9 billion to illegal gold exports from the country.

    Apart from the monetary loss to Nigeria, the activities of the illegal miners have also caused death of many Nigerians including children.

    Zamfara State in 2010, for instance, recorded series of lead poisoning which led to the deaths of at least 163 people, including 111 children.

    Health Ministry had at that time confirmed the discovery of 355 cases, with 46 percent proving fatal.

    Many moves by the various governments in the past to stop the activities of the illegal miners had not achieved much success.

    But the current administration is having a try at it again under its efforts to diversify the Nigerian economy and boost revenue from the sector to the government coffers.

    The Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari last Wednesday approved new measures to sanitise the sector.

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi said: “The memo presented to Council has to do with contribution of mining to the GDP. In the latest figure of GDP,  there is significant improvement industrial contribution after agriculture to that report as was released by the National Bureau for Statistics (NBS) states that 8.97 percent increase has happened and the bulk of the contribution from the industry is from mining and quarry activities.

    “But the primary reason for this memo is the fact that mining could still do a lot more in terms of its contribution.

    “NEITI has just released its report and that report made it clear that in 2014 and 2015, what we lost to illegal mining operation was somewhere in the region of about  $9 billion particularly from gold illegal exportation. There were other things that were illegally taken out,  lead,  zinc, tin and coal.

    “You recall that in the roadmap the Federal Executive Council approved last year, there is the establishment of the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force.

    “This memo that went to Council requested from Council the approval of the procurement of 50 Hilux Vehicles for the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force to capacitate them in their work to monitor and curb illegal mining activities in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory and then to support the collaboration between the state and Federal Governments via the Mineral Resources and Environmental Committees that the Mining Act has allowed to set up in all the states.

    “So this memo went to Council for the procurement of 50 Toyota Hilux Vans for the sum of N987 million at a set piece of about N19.3 million per a vehicle.

    “But it just forms part of an overarching framework because Council also underscores the fact that this one vehicle per state cannot solve all the problems but in order to begin to tackle the issues, we need to start from somewhere and ultimately the goal is to ensure that we deploy technology to monitor the illegal activities across the length and breadth of the country and through that capacitate the security services.

    “The Special Mines Surveillance Task Force is made up of all security agencies. The DSS,  the Police, the Civil Defence, EFCC and the National Security Adviser’s Office.

    “You may be aware that over the course of last year, the Police have established Mines Police and we now have a Commissioner of Police in-charge of Mines Police. We have a Commandant from the Civil Defence also exclusively deployed for mines activities.

    “If we can stop the spate of illegal activities, not just by Nigerians but by Nigerians in collaboration with some foreigners, we will significantly improve the revenue that comes from that sector, increase the contributions to GDP, increase the royalty to government and also provide more jobs for our people.

    “This is just the monitoring and curbing side of that work. The other side of reducing illegal and informal activities is the formalisation of small scale miners and artisan miners and you may all be aware that recently we placed N5 billion in the Bank of Industry to support the activities of Artisanal and small scale miners to formalise their operations, form into cooperatives and then get more capacitated by government,” he stated.

    It is definitely the prayer of all well-meaning Nigerians that government succeed in these new measures to boost income from the mining sector.

    While this is going on, it will be good for the government to also extend these measures to other areas of the economy where the country is losing money to illegal activities.

    It’s really high time for all bleeding points of the Nigerian economy to be blocked and sealed for the benefit of all Nigerians.

     

    Safeguarding stolen loot 

     

    The President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration last Wednesday took steps to safeguard the already recovered stolen assets and those to be recovered in the future.

    The President is trying to ensure that what was recovered from the deep throats of thieves do not end up in the pockets of another set of thieves masquerading as saints.

    Not only has he ordered audit of all the recovered stolen assets, the President also put in place measures to ensure accountability of funds to be recovered in the future.

    The three-member committees, whose shoulders the responsibilities lie, include Mr. Olufemi Lijadu, Mrs. Gloria Chinyere Bibigha and Mr. Mohammed Nami.

    Charging the audit committee on recovered assets to do thorough job, the President said: “The gains of our initiatives over the past two and a half years have been very obvious to all Nigerians. This is clear from the level of investigation, prosecution and forfeitures involving both public and private sector officials in the country.

    “The message has therefore been passed loud and clear that never again as a nation are we going to allow the wanton diversion and embezzlement of public funds to private pockets.

    “Nigerians will further recall that pursuant to requisite directives, recovered assets are progressively being returned to designated accounts by the anti-graft agencies and other agencies of Government involved with the process.

    “In the course of implementing this exercise and given the number of agencies who are concurrently pursuing specialized initiatives and making recoveries for Government, it has become obvious that fundamental gaps still exist in ensuring that the recovered assets are accounted for, and managed in an accurate, transparent and logical manner,” he said.

    He went on: ”It was in realisation of this and due to our determination to ensure that in pursuing the anti-graft war, we do not create new room for dishonorable conduct by any individual or agency that I directed, earlier in the year, that all agencies should send in detailed reports of all their recovered assets as at March, 2017.

    “The decision to inaugurate this Audit Committee on the Recovery and Management of Stolen Assets within and outside Nigeria today is therefore the next step in ensuring that all returns filed by the various agencies are accurate and consistent with actual recoveries made.” he said

    It is expected that the committee will be above board and carry out a thorough job.

    The committee should also not hesitate to expose any fraud it may discover in the process of carrying out the assignment.

    The interest and development of Nigeria should be paramount in their hearts.

  • PwC urges govt to check illegal mining

    Activities of illegal miners can be reduced if the government wakes up to its responsibility of monitoring.

    In an interview, Director, PricewaterCoopers (PwC), Cyril Azobu, said until serious attention was given to this by the government, the problem may not be solved.

    He added that it is an issue that needed to be addressed urgently.

    Azobu, however, agreed there had been talks on discouraging illegal mining, regretting that there hasn’t been any significant success in this regard. He said the government at some point tried to sensitise the monitoring agencies to address the issue.

    He said: “I think to be able to fully address illegal mining you have to have all agencies switched on; customs needs to be switched on because people are smuggling, and somebody has to be there to check at the point of exit.”

    He urged the government to check those who are buying the illegally mined mineral resources, adding that if there are no buyers, there will be no incentive to keep on with the illicit trade.

     

  • Illegal mining activities tear Akwa Ibom community apart

    Illegal mining activities tear Akwa Ibom community apart

    Miffed by the nonchalant attitude of the constituted authorities, the Ikot Ukpong Iman community in Etinan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, has threatened to embark on mass protest following the devastation of the area by activities of illegal sand miners.

    Sharing their experience, Prof. Gabriel Umoh, a stakeholder in Ikot Ukpong Iman, observed that the community was under serious threat of landslide, if urgent steps were not taken to stop the illegal activity.

    The community, according to the university don, has been shut in, as the only access road to the area has been completely devastated by heavy duty trucks and earth excavating equipment used by the company.

    “Currently, socio-economic activities in my community have crippled by the activities of the miners because the only link road to the community with a bridge has collapsed, forcing local farmers to take bush tracks to the major markets in Etinan.”

    He lamented that some neighbouring communities, who cashed in on this, erected tolls along the alternative routes in and out of Ikot Ukpong, charging between N50 and N100.

    Besides, he spoke of pains his people go through on a daily basis, as they trek long distances to other communities to fetch clean water, following the pollution of the only river by the sand dredgers.

    “One of the physical properties is being colourless, but our stream now has turned to different colours because pollution. It is unfair and a breach of natural law to engage in an economic activity that is totally detrimental to the wellbeing and existence of another man,” the Professor of Agricultural and Development Economics, noted.

    Worried by the development, community leaders and stakeholders, according to him, had written several petitions to some concerned authorities including the State Ministry and Federal Ministry of Environment, but no commensurate response.

    It was gathered the matter has become a source of disputes to other adjoining communities owing to the ongoing construction work on Etinan-Onna road by the State government.

    Also, some local residents accused the neighbouring Mbioto 11, of conniving with the mining companies, Be-Bina Dredging Company Ltd and Gulf Juliet International, to decimate Ikot Ukpong environment for cash.

    Disturbed by the alleged compromising stance of Mbioto 11, the affected community led by the Village Head, Eteidung Okon Akpan, and other traditional rulers had written to the Village Head of Mbioto 11, complaining of the devastation occasioned by such illegal dredging of the Akpasak stream.

    The letter entitled, ‘Pollution of our only source of drinking water’ and made available to reporters reads in part:

    “I on behalf of the entire Ikot Ukpong Iman community wish to draw your attention to the serious pollution Idim Akpasak (Akpasak stream), our only source of drinking water due to the sand dredging.”

    He lamented that the illegal mining of sand in the river has brought untold hardship on the people of the area, noting that such environmental activities violates all known environmental laws.

    Towards a lasting peace, it was gathered the Paramount Ruler of Etinan, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette, has summoned the affected communities for a meeting in order to avert a full blown war.

    “If all these avenues fail to yield any peace, we have no other option than to seek legal redress,” Umoh said.

  • Civil Defence arrests 10 for alleged illegal mining

    Civil Defence arrests 10 for alleged illegal mining

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday paraded 10 persons for alleged involvement in illegal sand mining at Iyagbe in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

    Afeez Idris, John Okon, Dare Bode, Bethel Gabriel, Bashir Sulaimon, Adekunle Akinbami, Jamiu Jinadu, Amos Adeyemi, Festus Fagbayi and Alaba George were arrested last Friday during a joint operation by officials of NSCDC and  Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals.

    Recovered from the suspects who could not provide documents to back up their activity were a speedboat engine and four motor batteries.

    The suspects denied any wrongdoing, insisting that they were earning a living from sand dredging.

    According to Akinbami, they were working for a dredging company when they were arrested.

    He said: “We were doing our normal work when the officials came in two boats and arrested us. My arrest is unlawful. I am surprised to hear that our operation is illegal. I have been working for the company for two years now. I collect N35,000 monthly.”

    Fagbayi claimed that he was lured into sand dredging because of scarcity of fish in the lagoon.

    He said: “I am a fisherman. It was scarcity of fish in the river that made me to work with the miners. I only hire my boat to them and I collect N2,000 per trip. I saw anything wrong in what they are doing. I felt it’s a normal job.”

    Jinadu who claimed he joined the company a few weeks ago, said it was his last resort since his fishing business was no longer lucrative.

    He said: “I joined the business because I no longer make enough money from fishing. The money I make could not feed my family and I needed additional source of income. Besides, I didn’t know it was an offence to dredge sand for the company.”

    NSCDC Commandant Tajudeen Balogun said the agency would sustain its clampdown on illegal miners and other economic saboteurs across the state.

    He said: “The suspects engaged in illegal mining as against the rules and regulations of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel. They were involved in the excavation of sand without having the necessary papers. Four pieces of motor batteries, one speed boat engine and one life jacket were recovered at the scene.”

    An official from the Solid Minerals Ministry, Olugbenga Ajayi, who was at the scene said there was a directive from the Minister, Kayode Fayemi, to allow only registered miners operate.

  • NSCDC arrests 10 for alleged illegal mining

    NSCDC arrests 10 for alleged illegal mining

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Monday paraded 10 suspected allegedly caught mining sand illegally at Iyagbe in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

    Afeez Idris, John Okon, Dare Bode, Bethel Gabriel, Bashir Sulaimon, Adekunle Akinbami, Jamiu Jinadu, Amos Adeyemi, Fagbeyi Festus  and Alaba George were arrested last Friday during a joint operation carried out by NSCDC operatives and officials from Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals.

    Recovered from the suspects who could not provide documents to back up their activity were a speedboat engine and four motor batteries.

    However, the suspects denied any wrongdoing, insisting that they were simply earning legitimate living from sand dredging.

    According to Akinbami, they were employed by a dredging company and were working for them when they were arrested.

    He said: “We were doing our normal work when the officials came in two boats and arrested us. My arrest is unlawful. I am surprised to hear that our operation is illegal. I have been working for the company for two years now. I collect N35, 000 monthly.”

    Festus claimed he was lured into sand dredging as a result of scarcity of fish in the lagoon.
    He said: “I am a fisherman. It was scarcity of fish in the river that made me to work with the miners. I only hire my boat to them and I collect N2, 000 per trip. I saw anything wrong in what they are doing. I felt it’s a normal job.”

    Jinadu who claimed he joined the company a few weeks ago, said it was his last resort since his fishing business was no longer lucrative.

    He said: “I joined the business because I no longer make enough money from fishing. The money I make could not feed my family and I needed additional source of income. Besides, I didn’t know it was an offence to dredge sand for the company.”

    Parading the suspects, Commandant, NSCDC, Tajudeen Balogun said the agency would sustain its clampdown on illegal miners and other economic saboteurs across the state.

    He said: “The suspects engaged in illegal mining as against the rules and regulations of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel. They were involved in the excavation of sand without having the necessary papers. Four pieces of motor batteries, one speed boat engine and one life jacket were recovered at the scene.”

    An official from the Solid Minerals Ministry, Olugbenga Ajayi, who was at the scene said there was a directive from the Minister, Kayode Fayemi, to allow only registered miners operate.

  • Fed Govt bans illegal mining of white sand, clay, caolin, others

    Fed Govt bans illegal mining of white sand, clay, caolin, others

    The Federal Government has banned the mining of white sand used for building construction, clay, caolin, limestone and granite.

    It warned that anyone cut  mining these resources illegally would be prosecuted.

    Speaking at a briefing by the Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development at the Command’s State headquarters, Uyo, State, its Commandant, Mr Emmanuel Ojeniyi, said the Commandant-General of NSCDC directed all state commands to work with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to ensure that all sources of income of the Federal Government were protected.

    He said the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi had directed the NSCDC to secure the officers of the Ministry on duty, arrest and prosecute anyone caught extracting solid minerals wthout a licence.

    Ojeniyi advised  those who need a licence to register with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

    “It is our duty henceforth and as directed by the Minister to arrest, prosecute and fine anyone caught who deal in Solid minerals anywhere in the country without licence from the Ministry.

    “In every state Command of NSCDC, a department headed by an Assistant Commandant has been created and charged with the responsibility of ensuring there is no issue of illegal exploitation of solid minerals in the country,” he said.

    He said the NSCDC Commandant has succeeded in securing petroleum pipelines, electricity poles, among others, adding that it was working with the Army, Navy, the Police and other security agencies to provide security.

    The officer in charge of the new department in Akwa Ibom State, Assistant Commandant Ime Udofia White pledged to work with the state Ministry of Works to stop contractors who deal illegally with these minerals to be licensed by the Federal Ministry of Solid minerals Development.

     

  • Fed Govt won’t tolerate illegal mining, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared that the Federal Government will no longer tolerate illegal mining and other improper activities that have inhibited the growth of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

    He issued the warning after receiving a briefing from top officials of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development led by the Permanent Secretary, Baba Umar Farouk.

    The President, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that the mines and steel sector was very important for the diversification of the economy.

    Buhari expressed displeasure at Mr. Farouk’s report that the sector had been overrun by illegal miners.

    “This is one of the most demoralising briefs I have received. The biggest threat to this country besides the Boko Haram is unemployment and the mining sector is key to employment creation.

    “We cannot be held back on such a strategic industry that can give us much needed jobs and promote economic growth.

    “There must be more seriousness in running this country and we are determined to instill that seriousness,” the President said.

    The Permanent Secretary had told the President that Nigeria’s mining  sector has been infiltrated by  “illegal aliens” who carry out unlawful mining activities in the country.

    The statement also said that President Buhari directed the Ministry of Environment to undertake a rigorous study of Lake Chad, with a view to bringing up proposals on how best to reverse the shrinking of the lake, which currently serves as a major source of livelihood for many.

    Speaking after receiving a briefing on the challenges facing the Ministry of Environment, President Buhari noted that the security and economic challenges faced by member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission could be substantially ameliorated with an improvement in the economic value of the lake.

    He also urged the Ministry of Environment to take up the challenge of researching cheaper ways of sourcing energy for cooking apart from firewood.

    The Permanent Secretary, Nana Fatima Mede told President Buhari that Lake Chad has shrunk considerably from the 1960s, when it covered an area of more than 26,000 square kilometers, to less than one-tenth of that size at present.