*Abubakar Ganye*
Abubakar Ganye is the Secretary of Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria.
In this interview with The Miners, he disputed claims of illegal mining being responsible for the scourge banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria.
QUE: Do you agree with those who say mining is actually responsible for the scourge of banditry and kidnapping now rampant in the north?
ANS: I disagree. Mining isn’t the primary cause of insecurity in the north. Banditry and kidnapping are complex issues rooted in poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to resources. Blaming mining oversimplifies the problem.
If there is any blame on the menace, it has to be ascribed to some of our desperate and disgruntled politicians, aggression of some of our traditional rulers and corrupt law enforcement agents that forms various political thuggery and conniving to rubb and shortchanged the villagers of their cattles.
QUE: What are the other factors responsible?
ANS: Poverty and unemployment, Weak security presence, Corruption, Ethnic and religious tensions, lack of economic opportunities. These vices that forms the norms of our contemporary society are among the causes of our insecurity in this country.
QUE: Illegal mining is a serious problem in Nigeria. Why is this so if one may ask?
ANS: Illegal mining persists due to corruption and collusion, inadequate resources for enforcement, and high demand for minerals. But still, the issue of illegal mining is over blown and exaggerated by the elites and enemies of the sector. Legal mining is overweight illegal mining.
QUE: How would you rate the performance of federal Mines officers in the states in curbing illegal mining?
ANS: Performance varies. Some officers are committed, while others face challenges like limited resources, inadequate training, and corruption. Most if not all Federal Mines offices are under-staffed, under funded, and few ones battling with lack of operational vehicles, logistics and also lacking in skills and capacity building.
QUE: There is this impression that many licenced miners in the country are themselves neck deep in illegal mining. Any truth in this?
ANS: Some miners may engage in illegal activities due to lack of awareness about regulations – economic pressures, Illegal interference if state, local governments, and traditional institutions and communities.
Overall, addressing insecurity and illegal mining requires a multifaceted approach involving government, security agencies, and stakeholders.
