Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo said on Sunday that legitimate artisanal miners in the Ejima community of Ankpa Local Government Area should not be criminalised for earning a living through lawful mining, and urged authorities to distinguish them from criminal elements.
Ododo spoke during an on-the-spot assessment of mining sites in Ejima, where he inspected environmental degradation and infrastructural damage allegedly caused by mining activities.
“They are not kidnappers. They are not armed robbers. They have chosen not to go the way of kidnapping. They have chosen to earn a living through their hands. Why should somebody come here, arrest them and tag them as illegal miners?,” the governor said.
He said his administration would not allow legitimate mining operations to be disrupted under the guise of tackling insecurity, adding that the government remained committed to protecting residents’ lives and livelihoods.
Ododo said the state government had profiled a significant number of artisanal miners, including more than 1,000 degree holders, over 500 master’s degree holders and more than 300 people with no formal educational qualifications.
The governor also expressed displeasure at the condition of roads and the lack of basic social amenities in Ejima, despite the mineral resources extracted from the area.
He directed the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development to work with the leadership of the miners’ association to compile a comprehensive list of licensed mining operators in the area for proper engagement.
According to Ododo, the government will hold talks with the operators and ensure they meet their Corporate Social Responsibility obligations by rehabilitating damaged roads and providing essential facilities, including schools, potable water and electricity.
He also cautioned traditional rulers against granting consent to unlicensed mining operators, and urged those who had issued approvals without following due process to withdraw them.
Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Bashir Gegu commended the governor for visiting the community in person, calling it a sign of the administration’s commitment to ensuring the state’s mineral wealth benefits its citizens.
Gegu said the government had tightened regulations governing mining, particularly the issuance of community consent letters and the implementation of Community Development Agreements. He said such agreements should go beyond token financial empowerment to include sustainable projects such as good roads, potable water, electricity, quality schools and scholarships for members of host communities.
Yunusa Oruma, chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, thanked the governor for the visit and for his administration’s support for the sector. He described Ododo as a supporter of mining and pledged the association’s readiness to mobilise artisanal and other miners in support of the administration.
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