…Nigeria loses N41.1bn annually to the menace
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s extractive industry have called on the media to take the lead in the fight against illegal mining.
The call was made, Wednesday at a media parley and workshop in Abuja.
It was disclosed at yhe event that Nigeria currently loses an estimated N41.1 billion annually to the menace of illegal mining.
The Media Parley and Workshop was titled Illegally, Mining: The Role of the Media, and organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
Declaring the session open, the Chairman of NUJ FCT Council Comrade Grace Ike noted that illegal mining has become a national crisis, threatening not only Nigeria’s economy but also its environment, security, and communities.
She urged journalists to see themselves as “catalysts for change” by investigating, exposing, and educating the public on the dangers of the practice.
“As gatekeepers of truth and agents of accountability, our duty goes beyond mere reportage.
We must investigate, expose, and educate the public on the devastating effects of illegal mining, particularly on host communities and water resources,” she said.
The NUJ pledged to continue amplifying the voices of affected communities while working with security agencies, civil society, and government institutions to ensure accountability and promote sustainable mining practices.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, described illegal mining as not just an economic crime but a security threat that fuels banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes.
He warned that cartels involved in the activity have links with organised criminal networks.
“Illegal mining robs our nation of vital resources. It is directly linked to insecurity in states like Zamfara, Niger, and even parts of the FCT.
Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has estimated losses from illegal mining and gold smuggling at $9 billion annually, draining foreign exchange and tax revenues,” he stated.
Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC A. J. Onoja, spoke passionately about the need for everyone to pitch in. He explained how illegal mining has cost Nigeria billions in lost money, ruined farmland, and stirred up trouble in communities.
“The fight against illegal mining in Nigeria cannot be won by enforcement agencies alone, but through a broad coalition that includes the government, industry players, communities, and, most importantly, the media,” he said.
Onoja praised the government’s efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Henry Dele Alake, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to clean up the sector by creating the Mining Marshals.
He stressed that this unit is no ordinary group—it’s backed by strong laws and a strict code of conduct to ensure fairness and toughness.
“We have dismantled illegal mining camps, arrested and prosecuted offenders, ensuring that the emerging policies of the Federal Government for the mining sector are working,” he added.
He also warned of challenges like tough landscapes and attempts to blackmail them through the media. He urged journalists to report fairly: “When individuals under investigation run to the press to spin their self-serving sides of the story, alleging victimisation despite breaches of the law, we ask for balanced reportage that reflects the intricacy of our work.”
In his remarks, the National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Dele Ayanleke, lamented that legitimate investors are being discouraged as illegal operators continue to undermine the sector.
He called for stronger enforcement of mining laws and collaboration with the media to sustain advocacy against the menace.
The workshop pointed out the economic, social, and environmental costs of illegal mining, including: Loss of government revenue due to unreported extraction and tax evasion, Water pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, Exploitation of child labour and unsafe mining practices and Increased insecurity in mineral-rich communities.
Participants stressed that the media has a critical responsibility to keep the issue in the public spotlight, mobilise communities, and hold both government and operators accountable.
The parley, themed “Sustaining the Fight Against Illegal Mining: The Role of the Media”, also emphasised the need for investigative journalism, grassroots monitoring, and responsible use of digital platforms to expose cartels and protect Nigeria’s natural resources.
