The Rise in Mining Activities in Benue May Worsen Insecurity If…
A decade ago, mining was a thing outside the contemplation of many Benue indigenes. Even if it was done, it could not be confidently said to have been mining proper. It was at most understood to be extraction.
However, about three years ago and counting, mining is been discussed in all its modern and sophisticated trends. As the trend continues to attract attention, there is a commiserate worry regarding the inordinate manner these activities are carried out and the likelihood of security challenge in a state that is already troubled on many fronts in terms of security courtesy of the marauding herdsmen militia.
This fear is largely predicated on the involvement of armed gangs in the mining sector.
Spurred by this development, the Transmitter makes an investigation into the intricacies of the business; the major actors, the victims and the danger it poses to the overall security architecture of the state.
Mr Agaabee Peter, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) spoke on the urgent need for the government to wade into the situation and nip in the bud, the activities of the miners. “I am just three years as a retired CSP. I am conversant with the Zamfara story. Much of what the government of that state was busy calling banditry was just mere activities of armed gangs that were out to control certain parts for mining in that state. Since the government was not deeply involved so as to read the riot Act, it became the game for the strongest. So my advice is that the Benue state government must act fast in order to forestall the Zamfara story.”
Mrs. Charity Adzaigba, of Logo, laments how the activities of the illegal miners have affected the community. She avers that “many of us woke up one day to start seeing the arrival of strange faces in our community. We were worried but were later told that the miners had the consent of the traditional rulers. The explanation, to some of us who are educated, was not convincing, but it was obvious our voices could not be heard.”
She added that, “they began digging everywhere in search of minerals. Our farmlands have been rendered degraded without adequate compensation.”
When asked as to the environmental implications of illegal mining, Mr Paul Ujah, a Geologist asserted that “mining per se has adverse environmental implications. It does not matter much whether it is legal or illegal mining. The slight difference is that when it comes to illegal mining, indiscriminate approaches are deployed and in this situation, the environment is utterly disregarded. Whereas, for legal mining, as the name implies, the rules of the game are followed. Government has made laws and regulations guiding mining in Nigeria and in all these laws, the position of the environment is featured prominently in that, acts capable of deteriorating the environment are declared to be criminal and punishable.
An investigation into the activities of mining in Kwande LGA reveals that with the rise in awareness of the deposition of mineral resources in the local area, the activities of armed gangs have increased as each struggles to take charge of certain areas for mining purposes. According Mrs. Becky Adzande, “we are calling on the government to take urgent steps in addressing the situation otherwise, the local government and even the state at large may suffer a breakdown of law and order. The geographical location of the local area with Cameronian border makes the proliferation of arms easy due to the spurious nature of our borders and coupled with ongoing war in the Anglophone part of the Cameron.”
The Executive Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, during address to stakeholders in the mining sector at the Banquet Hall of the State Government House called for suspension of mining activities in the state, citing security of lives and property. As part of efforts to curb the illegalities in the mining sector in the state. The Governor has also constituted a Mining Revalidation Committee, headed by the State Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr F.B Mnyim.
The chairman promised that the committee will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the provisions of 2007 Mining Laws of the state are strictly complied forthwith, otherwise no group nor any individual will be allowed to carryout mining in the state.
In another development, while the state government has change gear to checkmate mining activities in the state, there have been questions as to who owns mineral resources in Nigeria and who can exercise authority over same.
P.T Aande Esq says the question as to who owns mineral resources in the country has long been answered by both judicial and statutory authorities. But let’s go with the statutory authorities. S1 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act is clear and unambiguous as to who owns mineral in Nigeria and that is the federal government of Nigeria. S1(2) of the same Act provides that, “all lands in which minerals have been found in commercial quantities shall, from the commencement of this Act be required by the Government of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of the Land Use Act.” He stated further that, “S1 of the Land Use Act vests all lands in the territory of a state in the person of the governor to be administered in the interest and benefit of all Nigerians. However S28 of the same Land Use Act gives the Governor to revoke the rights of occupancy of any individual for public interest and this is how S1(2) of MMA can be given effect. ”
In exercise of the powers conferred under S4 of the MMA, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake has called on state governors to establish mining companies and apply for mining licences. The decision of the Minister was contained in a Communiqué issued by the Governors Forum on the 16th day of May, 2024.
Benue State is home to well over 20 mineral resources and it is hoped that when properly harnessed, it will bring about the prosperity of the state and the nation at large.
However, the immediate concern of the people stems and remains in the fact that if left unchecked, the activities of the illegal miners are capable of further deteriorating an already troubled security atmosphere in the state.
