Media must join fight against illegal mining – NUJ FCT

The Commander of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, has revealed that revenue from the mining sector rose from ₦6 billion to over ₦38 billion within one year of the establishment of the Mining Marshals.

Onoja disclosed this during a media parley and workshop organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council on “The Fight Against Illegal Mining: Role of the Media.” He explained that the increase was largely due to the Marshals’ clampdown on illegal mining activities nationwide.

He urged journalists to support the fight against illegal mining through balanced reporting, warning that cartels were sponsoring “rogue journalism” to discredit enforcement efforts.

“We will not cave to any blackmail designed to weaken our resolve. Illegal mining cannot be defeated by enforcement agencies alone, and this is why we are calling on the media to be partners in this fight,” he said.

According to him, the Mining Marshals—established under the Tinubu administration by directive of the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake—have dismantled illegal camps, prosecuted offenders, and restored order in volatile mining corridors despite challenges such as entrenched interests and poor logistics.

“Our message is clear: Nigeria’s mineral wealth belongs to all Nigerians—not to be plundered by a few,” Onoja declared.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, also raised concerns, noting that illegal mining has become a cartel-driven business sponsored by powerful Nigerians. He said the crime is fuelling insecurity, with the country losing an estimated $9 billion (₦13.7 trillion) annually.

“Illegal mining is not just a mere economic crime; it fuels insecurity, degrades our environment, undermines lawful investment, and robs our nation of vital resources,” Adewale stated, adding that over 72 suspects were arrested in Abuja alone between 2023 and 2024.

He listed Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Osun, and parts of the FCT as hotspots, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between the media and security agencies.

The National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dele Ayanleke, also condemned the destructive impact of illegal mining, citing child labour in Nasarawa, mercury poisoning in Zamfara, and insecurity in the North. He called for stronger governance and media attention to dismantle the cartels.

NUJ FCT Chairperson, Grace Ike, urged journalists to go beyond surface reporting by investigating financiers of illegal mining, amplifying community voices, and holding policymakers accountable.

“As gatekeepers of truth, we must investigate, expose, and educate the public on the devastating effects of illegal mining,” she said, pledging that the NUJ FCT would continue to amplify community voices and promote transparency in the sector.