The Miners Association of Nigeria has rejected calls for a nationwide suspension of mining activities, insisting that banning mining will not resolve Nigeria’s security challenges.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja and jointly signed by MAN’s National President, Dele Ayankale, and National Secretary, Sulaiman Liman, the association said only illegal mining, not lawful operations, has been linked to insecurity.
The reaction follows a recent resolution by the Northern States Governors’ Forum, which called for a six-month suspension of mining activities to allow for an audit and revalidation of mining licences, citing the abduction of schoolchildren and killings in parts of the region.
Ayankale warned that a blanket ban would punish legitimate operators while allowing criminal networks to thrive.
“It is the disorderly, illegal mining carried out without licences or regulatory oversight that practices money laundering and fuels insecurity,” he said.
“There must be a clear distinction between legal and illegal mining. Branding mining as the cause of insecurity is a misnomer.”
He argued that previous bans had failed to improve security, pointing to the 2019 suspension of mining in Zamfara State.
“The negatives outweighed the positives. Instead of curbing insecurity, banditry and terrorism escalated and spread to neighbouring states such as Katsina, Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi,” Ayankale said.
According to him, another ban would lead to mass unemployment, worsen poverty, and inadvertently strengthen illegal miners linked to criminal groups.
“The real victims of such bans are usually legitimate miners and their employees. Illegal miners still gain access to mineral resources because of poor logistics and inadequate personnel to enforce compliance,” he added.
Ayankale cautioned that stopping legal mining could encourage criminal groups to exchange minerals for weapons.
“Unfettered access of illegal miners to mineral resources in areas where mining is banned empowers criminals, enabling them to trade minerals for arms and ammunition,” he said.
The MAN president also said the proposed suspension could undermine the Federal Government’s efforts to attract investment to the solid minerals sector.
“A ban at a time when the country is beginning to attract pockets of investment into the sector is unfortunate and highly unpatriotic,” he stated.
He explained that MAN members work with security agencies, adhere to environmental standards, and support host communities through mandatory Community Development Agreements.
“Our members operate responsibly and contribute to infrastructure and economic growth in rural communities,” Ayankale said.
Instead of a ban, he urged state governments to strengthen enforcement against illegal mining.
“Governors should deploy part of their security votes or establish special funds to support the Mining Marshals and other lawful initiatives to tackle illegal mining,” he said.
Ayankale also opposed calls for licence revalidation by state governments, describing them as unconstitutional.
“The control and management of mineral resources are on the Exclusive Legislative List. Any agitation to the contrary goes against the spirit and letter of the Constitution,” he said.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reject the proposed ban, warning that it could worsen insecurity by creating more recruits for terrorist groups.
