From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
A New York-based lawyer and chartered accountant, Owolabi Salis, has brought to light the extent of the activities of illegal miners in Nigeria and their impact on the nation’s security.
Salis claimed that over 60 to 65 per cent of the insecurity facing the country is a direct result of illegal mining, often orchestrated by foreigners in collaboration with local individuals.
In a chat with journalists on Tuesday, he contended that illegal miners have not only been exploiting natural resources in the country, without the necessary government approval, he also alleged them to have been instigating and funding communal clashes as a method to displace people from their land and gain access to valuable resources.
Salis added that their activities have led to the displacement of innocent individuals and the loss of billions of dollars in revenue for Nigeria’s mining sector.
He criticised the Federal Government’s 30-day ultimatum to illegal miners, stating that joining a miner’s association would not resolve the issue at hand. Instead, he urged the government to take decisive action, making laws that specifically ban illegal miners from operation in the country.
Salis called on President Bola Tinubu to pay more attention to the mining sector as a potential avenue for economic growth.
According to him. “Nigeria is losing billions of dollars, owing to the government’s negligence of the mining sector. Several factors are bedeviling the mining industry, two of them are illegal mining and smuggling of precious gems, aquatic animals, wild animals and others out of Nigeria.
“Nigeria is losing billions of dollars every year due to our negligence in the mining sector. The authority has not controlled the issue of mining, which is also creating a security threat. Most of these illegal miners operate without government’s approval and they are masterminded by foreigners in collaboration with local lords.
“The foreign illegal miners are the ones funding insurgency to displace people from their communities, to gain access to carry out the illegal mining. They will invade the village to displace innocent people, especially where they discover valuables and raw materials. All these international criminals are at the forefront and the Nigerian authority does not pay attention to it.”
Salis highlighted the need for Nigeria to transform its natural resources into valuable assets and suggested that mining education be included in the nation’s education curriculum.
He was optimistic that by introducing mining education at all levels, younger Nigerians would better understand the benefits and potential of the mining sector.
Salis emphasised that mining education is not limited to solid minerals, but encompasses all valuable resources, including precious gems found in the ocean. He stressed that countries proficient in mining, train their children in the field, making it compulsory to ensure the sustainable and responsible extraction of resources.
“Mining education should be introduced in primary and secondary schools and of course the tertiary institutions. Mining is key to transforming the earth to usefulness to people. Countries that are proficient in mining train their kids in the area and also make it compulsory,” Salis stated.
He, however, warned that the negligence of the mining sector has resulted in Nigeria losing billions of dollars annually and heightened security threats.
“One of the problems of African people is they are not paying attention to how to transform natural resources to human use, for valuable use, it is not only limited to solid minerals. It includes precious gems in the ocean.”