2 days Ago By James Abraham
The Plateau State government is currently battling to put an end to the activities of illegal miners and restore sanity in the sector. A cross section of residents who who spoke with Arewa PUNCH in Jos on Thursday noted that the battle might have started with the recent decision by the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang to suspend all mining activities in the state which has sent shockwaves throughout the mining community. The move, our correspondent further reports, is aimed at restoring sanity and safeguarding the environment, has been met with mixed reactions from stakeholders.
Arewa PUNCH notes that for years, Plateau State has been plagued by the scourge of illegal mining. Artisanal miners, often with little regard for safety or environmental regulations, have been exploiting the state’s rich mineral resources, leaving behind a trail of destruction and degradation. The environmental impact of these activities has been devastating.
Rivers have been polluted, forests have been destroyed, and farmland has been rendered useless, just as the health consequences for local communities have been dire, with many residents suffering from respiratory problems and other illnesses related to exposure to toxic substances. Worse still, many houses have been reported to be under the threat of imminent collapse due to underground tunnels dug by these minners However, not a few residents and experts have concluded that the problems associated with illegal mining go beyond environmental degradation, stressing that the sector has also been linked to insecurity, with many armed groups and criminal organisations exploring mining as a means of financing their activities. It was against this backdrop that the Plateau State Government decided to take a drastic action when, in February 2025, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang signed Executive Order 001, suspending all mining activities in the state.
The move was welcomed by many who saw it as a necessary step towards restoring sanity to the sector. “We are tired of the destruction and chaos caused by these illegal miners. We want to see our state developed and our environment protected,” said Mathias Choji, a local resident in the Du community, Jos South Local Government Area, where mining activities appear to be dominant.
” However, an aide to the governor, Hitler Pwajok, defended the suspension order when he noted, “We are going back to the drawing board. For long, we have been losing a lot of our youths due to the activities of artesenal mining, and the key thing is that we have to create and find a better way of doing this mining activities. “We want every youth to be patient with the government because you know that His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang is keen in seeing that the youths are empowered.
Related News NSCDC links banditry to illegal mining, seeks stronger security measures FG approves N2.5bn to combat illegal mining Plateau shuts two private schools over poor facilities “We know that this is one of their ways of getting revenue, but by the Grace of God, what you will see coming out as a planned programme and how mining will be done in Plateau will convince you that the governor means well for the state and it’s people,” Pwajok insisted. Similarly, the State Commissioner for Transport, Jatau Davou added, “The local miner earns up to N14,000 per kilogramme of tin and sells it for N40,000 and then, the middle man sells it out for over one million naira leaving the man in the pit and the community to suffer all the consequences.
Is it fair?” He queried. However, not everyone is pleased with the decision. Some miners who rely on the sector for their livelihood have expressed concerns about the impact of the suspension on their families’ welfare.
“We understand the need to regulate the sector, but we also need to think about the welfare of our people. You can’t just stop mining now. If you try to stop it, there will be a lot of criminal activities and the governor knows it and nobody will be safe,” said Pam Daniel, the Secretary of the Mining Association in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
He added, “For us, we don’t have any problem with the way mining activities are going on. I think the problem is a situation whereby strangers just come and start mining, and I believe that the government can take care of that without disrupting the activities of law-abiding citizens who rely on mining for their livelihood. “The government can take advantage of the fact that at every mining site, there is a union there, and there is also security in those places.
So, if a stranger comes, the union members should be able to identify the person and inform the government of any necessary actions. “The government can also tell the union that they don’t want to see any underage person engaging in mining and the government can be sure of its implementation. If you check in other states in the North, you will discover that kidnapping has reduced.
Even the Boko Haram activities have reduced also. Here, in Plateau, things have started to settle down. But, if you say there is shouldn’t be mining activities, then the situation may change.
“So, the government is not fair to say that mining is causing insecurity, whereas, on the contrary, it has helped to curb insecurity because it has kept many of the youths busy. So, for me, there is no need for the government to suspend or ban mining activities in the state because the disadvantages outweigh the advantages being canvassed.” In response to these concerns, the Plateau State Government has established a technical committee to engage with stakeholders and develop a framework for ensuring that mining activities in the state are conducted in a safe and responsible manner.
The committee, which includes representatives from the mining industry, local communities, and government agencies, is tasked with verifying Community Development Agreements, title holders, and mining cooperatives, as well as engaging mining communities and sensitising them on the importance of legal mining. Arewa PUNCH further reports that as the Plateau State Government continues to grapple with the challenges of regulating the mining sector, one thing is clear: the days of unchecked illegal mining in the state are over. The government’s decision to clamp down on the sector may have been met with mixed reactions, but it is a necessary step towards restoring sanity and safeguarding the environment.
As Governor Mutfwang noted, “We will not allow the activities of a few individuals to jeopardise the future of our state. We will take all necessary steps to ensure that mining is conducted in a safe and responsible manner and that our environment is protected for generations to come,” Mutfwang declared..
