The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) says halting mining activities across the country will not address the nation’s security problems, warning that such a move would punish legitimate operators while allowing illegal miners to thrive.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja and signed by its National President, Dele Ayankale, and National Secretary, Sulaiman Liman, the association reacted to the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF)’s proposal to suspend mining for six months following recent abductions and killings in parts of the region.
The governors had linked illegal mining to rising insecurity and argued that a temporary suspension would enable a full audit and revalidation of mining licences.
But MAN insisted that only illegal mining has been tied to terrorism financing, not lawful operations. The group said a blanket ban would cripple licensed miners, worsen unemployment and poverty, and undermine federal efforts to attract investment into the solid minerals sector.
Ayankale recalled that a similar ban in Zamfara State in 2019 failed to improve security, noting that banditry eventually spread to neighbouring states such as Katsina, Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi.
He said illegal miners—often linked with criminal networks—would still have access to mineral sites due to weak enforcement capacity, potentially worsening the exchange of mineral resources for arms.
“It is disorderly and unregulated mining that fuels insecurity. Stigmatising legitimate mining activities is misleading and counterproductive,” he said.
The association added that its members follow recognised safety and environmental procedures and regularly collaborate with security agencies, while also contributing to rural development through statutory community agreements.
Describing the proposed suspension as “unpatriotic,” Ayankale urged the governors to instead channel part of their security votes into strengthening the Mining Marshals and other enforcement bodies tackling illegal operations.
He also dismissed calls for a revalidation of mining licences as an attempt at resource control, stressing that the constitution places mineral resource management under the exclusive purview of the Federal Government.
MAN appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider the wider consequences of a mining ban, warning that it could inadvertently push more youths into criminal groups.