Reps declare war on illegal mining, vow to recover $9bn lost revenue

NSCDC reports 500 arrests, 270 prosecutions underway

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

ABUJA — The House of Representatives has launched a nationwide crackdown connected amerciable mining, pledging to retrieve the estimated $9 cardinal mislaid to the illicit commercialized successful conscionable 2 and a fractional months and to seal disconnected each gross leakages undermining Nigeria’s mineral wealth.

Speaking astatine the inauguration of the Ad Hoc Committee connected Illegal Mining connected Wednesday successful Abuja, Committee Chairman, Rep. Sanni Abdulraheem, described the duty arsenic a “matter of nationalist urgency,” vowing that the committee would “leave nary chromatic unturned” successful exposing corruption and enforcing transparency successful the mining sector.

“We mislaid astir 9 cardinal US dollars successful conscionable implicit 2 and a fractional months done amerciable mining,” helium said. “This theft of our nationalist resources indispensable stop. Our ngo is to artifact leakages, enforce transparency, and guarantee each kobo from our earthy resources contributes to nationalist development.”

Abdulraheem decried the devastating effects of amerciable mining, which helium said has fueled insecurity, degraded the environment, and displaced susceptible communities. He added that structured oversight and collaboration with ministries, agencies, backstage operators, and big communities would assistance reconstruct accountability and stableness to the sector.

“As we determination forward, 1 of the halfway objectives of this committee is to artifact gross leakages caused by amerciable mining and associated activities that not lone bargain from our treasury but besides hinder morganatic operations that could boost nationalist revenue,” helium noted.

He besides pointed to the long-idle Ajaokuta Steel Company arsenic a awesome of Nigeria’s untapped potential, expressing optimism that ongoing authorities reforms would yet revitalize the project. “Ajaokuta stands arsenic a glaring testament to our nonaccomplishment to harness our mineral wealth. But today, we spot governmental volition similar ne'er before,” helium said.

Representing the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Assistant Commander Atta John Onoja disclosed that the Corps has intensified its clampdown connected amerciable mining crossed the country.

Onoja, who heads the NSCDC’s Mining Marshal Unit—a associated task unit established successful March 2024 successful collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals—revealed that implicit 500 amerciable miners person been arrested, with 270 already facing proceedings and respective convictions secured.

“Illegal miners are nary longer having their tract day. Many are present moving to regularize their operations,” Onoja said. “The NSCDC, nether the directives of the Ministers of Interior and Solid Minerals, remains committed to eliminating amerciable mining to its barest minimum.”

While acknowledging operational challenges, Onoja called for stronger ineligible frameworks to guarantee effectual prosecution and deterrence against mining-related crimes.

He pledged the Corps’ continued practice with the lawmakers, noting that the run against amerciable mining aligns with the NSCDC’s law mandate to support captious nationalist assets and infrastructure.

The committee aboriginal entered an enforcement league to representation retired its probe strategy and stakeholder engagement roadmap.

The station Reps state warfare connected amerciable mining, vow to retrieve $9bn mislaid revenue appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.