Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called for strengthened collaboration between stakeholders in the solid minerals sector and the National Parks Service to tackle illegal mining and prevent the frequent collapse of mining pits.
In a statement issued by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Dr. Alake highlighted technical reports showing that many pit collapses are due to the lack of professional skills among artisanal miners involved in illegal mining.
He urged these miners to stop risking their lives and instead form mining cooperatives, allowing them to seek licenses and permits for legal operations through the ministry.
The Minister emphasized that under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, mineral exploration within national parks is prohibited, as it poses a significant threat to the forests, plants, and wildlife preserved by the government.
He called upon National Parks Service officers to report any cases of mineral extraction to the nearest Federal Mines Officer to ensure prompt intervention.
The statement came in response to a recent pit collapse in Gashaka-Gunti National Park, where illegal mining operations led to tragic consequences. Dr. Alake stated that the ministry is actively monitoring the incident through federal mines officers in Taraba and Adamawa states. To prevent similar occurrences, he urged local government authorities to monitor illegal mining activities within their jurisdictions and work closely with state ministry offices on early warning systems designed to combat this issue.
In an effort to educate the public on the dangers of illegal mining, the Ministry is sponsoring radio programs on Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and Voice of Nigeria (VON), available in nine Nigerian languages to reach non-English-speaking artisanal miners. According to Dr. Alake, these programs will raise awareness and encourage miners to join cooperatives to benefit from the ministry’s training and empowerment programs.
The minister reiterated his department’s commitment to deepening trust between artisanal miners and the government, stating that further engagement initiatives are underway to support these miners and promote safer, legal mining practices across Nigeria.
