*Mr. Denzel Henry Akogwu
The Chairman of Elipse International Limited,
Mr. Denzel Henry Akogwu, has called for a decentralization of the mining sector, arguing that the 2007 Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act has left local authorities powerless while illegal operators strip the northern region of its wealth.
Akogwu said although Northern Nigeria sits on a fortune of gold, lithium and gemstones, these resources are not creating prosperity. He argues that by centralizing licensing and oversight in Abuja, the law has created a “regulatory vacuum” on the ground.
“The centralization of regulatory authority has disenfranchised state and local governments, hindering effective oversight and enforcement,” Akogwu stated. This gap, he says, allows illegal artisanal mining to flourish unchecked.
For him, the federal government’s exclusive grip on mineral regulation is contributing to the insecurity and environmental “epidemic” in Northern Nigeria.
According to him, the human cost of this policy failure is already evident. He cited the 2010 Zamfara lead poisoning —which killed over 400 people—as an example of what happens when toxic chemicals like mercury and lead are used without adequate supervision.
He also pointed at illegal mining camps across the North, noting that these sites often serve as operational hubs for criminal elements.
To transform the sector from a security threat into an economic engine, Akogwu proposed a move toward an Integrated Framework built on three pillars:
Constitutional Amendment: Rewriting the Mining Act to allow States to issue their own licenses and manage safety standards.
Technological Warfare: Establishing a National Mineral Intelligence and Surveillance Center to monitor remote excavation sites using satellite and drone technology.
Unified Security: Deploying a Northern Region Mining Security Task Force that combines the muscle of the military with the local knowledge of community vigilantes.
Akogwu’s insights carry significant weight in the industry. As a Jos-based leader and the recipient of the 2025 Young Corporate Entrepreneur and Leadership of the Year award, he has seen firsthand how local communities remain trapped in poverty despite the presence of high-value minerals like tantalite and barite.
His message to policymakers is clear: Without a community-inclusive legal framework, the North’s mineral wealth will continue to be a curse rather than a blessing.
