The Miners Association of Nigeria has issued a strong rebuttal to the call by the Congress of Northern Governors and Elders for a suspension of mining activities across the region, arguing that such a drastic move would deepen national insecurity rather than resolve it. The Association, which represents all mineral title holders and licensed operators in the country, insists that legal mining has no link to terrorism or banditry and should not be punished for the crimes of illegal operators.
In a statement signed by National President Dele Ayanleke and National Secretary Sulaiman Liman, the group warned that halting legal mining would cripple rural economies, destroy jobs and frighten away new investors at a time when Nigeria is finally beginning to attract fresh capital into the solid minerals sector. They noted that insecurity affects several industries and is driven by the isolation of rural communities, not by the operations of lawful miners who maintain close cooperation with security agencies.
The Association stated that legal mining provides essential raw materials to domestic industries, supports community development projects, and contributes foreign exchange earnings. It argued that placing legitimate miners in the same category as illegal operators is both unjust and harmful, stressing that illegal mining remains the real driver of crime due to its lack of oversight, its involvement in money laundering and its exploitation of ungoverned spaces.
Read also:
- Bayelsa cracks down on rampant illegal mining as government warns community leaders of arrest, prosecution
- Rubi Network’s double mining reward to mark 3rd anniversary
- Ortom cautions against illegal mining in Benue
The group cited past failures of security crackdowns, recalling the 2019 ban on mining in Zamfara State which did nothing to stop banditry or kidnappings but instead pushed criminal activities into neighbouring states. It urged Northern Governors to invest in stronger security frameworks, upgrade rural infrastructure and increase support for the Mining Marshall outfit to combat illegal mining effectively.
The Miners Association also rejected proposals for the revalidation of mining licences, describing them as unconstitutional since mineral resource management lies within the Exclusive Legislative List. It called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and relevant federal institutions to dismiss the idea of a regional mining ban, warning that such a step would worsen insecurity, escalate poverty and undermine the government’s ongoing investment drive.
According to the Association, banning mining at a time when Minister Henry Oladele Alake is working to stabilise and expand the sector would send damaging signals to both local and international investors. They urged policymakers to pursue targeted reforms rather than sweeping measures that punish compliant operators and weaken the national economy.
