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The Senate Wednesday revealed that the solid mineral sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product, GDP of the country has dwindled due to illegal mining activities.
This is even as Senate said illegal artisanal mining accounts for over 80 percent of mining in the country and it is not generating revenue.
To eradicate the illegal activity, the Senate has called on the federal government to immediately develop a national framework in response to illegal mining.
This, the Senate further asked the federal government to constitute a presidential committee on solid minerals to ensure that the sector is revived to enhance national economic growth.
Senate decided a motion by Senator Ya’u Sahabi (Zamfara North) on the need to check illegal mining activities in the country.
Illegal mining is thriving in several states across the country especially in Zamfara, Niger Plateau, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo.
The Senate is disturbed that the sites where the illegal activity takes place breed criminality that exacerbates into full-scale terrorism and insurgency witnessed in the affected states.
However, Senator Sahabi argued that Nigeria is rich in over 40 types of minerals, with the spider minerals providing a potential source of economic development. But he noted that the sector is grossly affected by the illegal mining activities.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan in his remarks assured that the Senate will seriously look into the solid mineral sector to eradicate all illegalities hampering economic development to the sector.
