Proposed Mining Suspension ‘Unpatriotic,’ Will Hurt Economy — MAN

The Miners Association of Nigeria has rejected the call for a nationwide suspension of mining activities, insisting that such a move would deepen insecurity and cripple legitimate businesses across the country.

In a statement released in Abuja and jointly signed by the association’s National President, Dele Ayankale, and National Secretary, Sulaiman Liman, the group argued that banning mining is not the solution to Nigeria’s security crisis.

Their reaction followed the Northern States Governors’ Forum’s recommendation for a six-month suspension of mining activities after recent cases of killings and mass abductions, especially the kidnapping of schoolchildren in some states. The governors had linked illegal mining to terrorism, saying a ban would allow the government conduct a full audit of licences.

Ayankale said only illegal mining not licensed operations has been associated with funding terrorism, stressing that the proposed suspension unfairly punishes legitimate miners while empowering criminal groups. He cited the 2019 ban in Zamfara State as an example of a failed strategy, noting that insecurity worsened and later spread to neighbouring states.

He warned that a fresh ban would lead to job losses, worsen poverty, harm rural communities, and undermine the federal government’s efforts to attract investment into the solid minerals sector. According to him, illegal miners would still operate freely due to weak federal enforcement capacity, enabling further exchange of minerals for weapons.

Ayankale also said legal mining companies work closely with security agencies and follow environmental and safety standards. Through community development agreements, he added, miners provide infrastructure and support economic activities in many rural areas.

He described the ban as “unpatriotic” and urged the Northern governors to instead use part of their security votes to strengthen the Mining Marshals and other enforcement bodies combating illegal mining. He also dismissed the renewed push for licence revalidation, calling it an attempt at resource control that contradicts constitutional provisions placing mineral resources under federal jurisdiction.

Ayankale appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider the wider implications, warning that the ban could inadvertently create new recruits for terrorist groups.