The House of Representatives committee on solid minerals development has declared that Nigeria loses $9 billion annually to illegal mining.
Chairman of the committee, Jonathan Gbefwi, stated this at a public hearing to investigate illegal mining in the solid minerals sector, held on Monday.
He noted that illegal mining poses “substantial risks” to the nation’s economy, environment, and security and that the unregulated exploitation of the country’s natural resources jeopardises the sustainability of the mineral sector, leading to environmental degradation and revenue loss that could otherwise benefit our communities and nation as a whole.
Gbefwi pointed out that the negative impacts of illegal mining which have led to insecurity and conflicts over control of mining sites and their resources were a source of concern.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, whike declaring the public hearing open, said an estimated 80 per cent of mining in the north-west is done illegally.
Abbas who was represented by Julius Ihonvbere, the majority leader of the house, said illegal mining is a “growing socio-economic challenge in Nigeria affecting the ecosystems and increasing poverty levels, especially among peasant farmers” who depend solely on environmental resources for a living.
