TheCable

The house of representatives has asked the federal government to set up a special task force to “flush out” illegal miners.

The lower legislative chamber also urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining.

The green chamber passed the resolution at plenary on Wednesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Ibrahim Halims, the deputy majority leader.

While moving the motion, Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro of Kogi federal constituency, said there is an urgent need for “focused intervention and radical measures” to address the issues affecting the solid minerals sector and its underperformance.

Citing the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2022 report, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker said states mineral sector contributes to government revenue at 2.62 percent of the government’s N6.63 trillion total revenue.

He said illegal mining is a challenge “bedevilling” the solid minerals sector and its attendant effect is detrimental to the environment, national security, and economic growth.

“The loss of revenue from unregulated and illicit mining operations, costing the government $9 billion annually with only 3 percent royalties paid by a few licensed miners, is hindering the country’s mineral resource utilization,” the legislator said.

“The negative impacts of illegal mining which have led to insecurity and conflicts over control of mining sites and their resources has escalated into violence thus exacerbating existing political and social tensions in the affected communities.”

He said some state governors have signed executive orders banning illegal mining due to the harmful activities to protect host communities.

He said the federal government should “swiftly and decisively address the revitalisation and development of this critical sector” for the benefit of the Nigerian economy and its citizens.

The motion was voted for when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.

Following that, the house asked the federal government to make provision in the 2024 budget for the establishment of mineral monitoring and inspection offices equipped with manpower and equipment/infrastructure in the 109 senatorial districts of the country.

The house also asked the federal government to constitute a special security task force for a year, comprising the military, Department of State Security Services (DSS), immigration, civil defence, and police to “embark on a sweeping exercise to flush out all illegal miners”.

In September, Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, gave illegal miners a 30-day ultimatum to join a miners’ cooperative.

Alake had said after the expiration of the 30-day grace period, there will be a clampdown on illegal miners by security agencies.