Ignorance, reckless disregard, and entrenched corruption are toxic hindrance efforts to tackle illegal mining on the Plateau, which now imperils food security across the state and poses a persistent threat to residents and surrounding communities, Racheal Danjuma reports.
Plateau State
Beneath its vibrant, industrious populace and captivating climate, Plateau State is facing a number problems. The problem of illegal mining has become a ticking time bomb. This human-induced activity poses a significant threat to the environment, undermining ecological balance, endangering security and jeopardising the very fabric of the state’s livelihood by taking a joy and rewards of inhabitants through unintended consequences triggered by such activity.
Illegal mining has left a trail of devastation in Plateau State, creating deadly traps, resulting in tragic losses of life, and jeopardising fertile and arable lands. Regrettably, many individuals, driven by enduring economic downturn and decreasing purchasing power, have increasingly turned to this illicit trade with authorities turning away, making them complicit.
Residents of Bassa, Jos South, Jos North, Barikin Ladi, and Wase Local Governments, where this practice persists, “cannot be entirely blamed for their involvement, given the substantial financial gains it offers,” Abdullahi Musa Muhammad, Dakin Kowa, Jos South told this reporter.
Continuous Exploitation with I Don’t Care Attitude
Yeshak Kyenlong Francis explains, “Initially foreigners come into our land and mine mineral resources as much as they and cart them away, only subjecting members of community to hard labour with a little token as compensation.
“This business has now been transferred as indigenous companies, I mean Nigerians are now fully involved in this illegality not minding the impact it has on health of community members, environment, talk more of revenue it deprives the state and even the federal government; you know a lot people still do not believe in things like climate change and repercussions of mining without law. To them, whatever the government gets does not affect them so, they do not care.”
“The mining issue is a serious concern due to lack of regulation. Those involved dig holes randomly and excavate soil for minerals without covering them afterwards, posing danger to both children and adults who fall and get injured. Tragically, a friend of mine fell and lost his life last year.
“Young people like me, striving to make a living, are unconcerned that aside boring potential dead holes, this activity destroys our farmlands through erosion. Our maize, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes and other crops yield significantly less due to this,” Abdullahi.
Sati Marcus who grows rice, maize, acha grain and groundnut stressed this saying, “It is becoming annoying when you come to look at what illegal mining does. Areas where this activity takes place are now dead traps due to evacuation of soils from the land which poses danger to both humans and animals. Frustrating enough, those involved do not care whether your land is suitable for agriculture which puts food on our tables.”
Time of the day is not a consideration for perpetrators of the crime; they defy odds to operate under cover of the night. John Samuel from Bassa LG said, “It will amaze you to know, mining operations commence late at night, from 12am till dawn to evade detection and arrest. Amount of people engaging increases by the day, understandably, given the economic situation of the country, I do not blame those involved.”
Repercussions Already Manifesting
Illegal mining activities were identified as the cause of environmental problems such as water pollution, deforestation, poor soil fertility, and limited access to land for agriculture productivity. It also contributes to erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, significant use of water resources, wastewater disposal issues, acid mine drainage, and contamination of soil, ground, and surface water. Some these problems are already manifesting under the eye of Plateau people.
“Land for agriculture is now very bad because mining has opened room for serious flooding and erosion, both of which displace nutrients from the soil to other parts which may not be suitable for cultivation. If you are very observant, you will notice that food is no longer abundant in Jos like it used to be some years ago, a typical example is Jos Forest where you are welcomed with a variety of farm produce.
“Apart from this, land for agriculture is no longer available. Why am saying this? A large percentage of land mined used to be cultivated but as soon as they scout your land, find minerals, they give you huge amount and ask you to vacate, that way, cultivable land is lost,” Marcus explains.
Elaborating further, “Rural area inhabitants receive offers within the blink of an eye due to unfamiliarity with handling substantial sums of money. Lives are loss when minerals are discovered on a piece of land and compensations are to be paid upon, clashes ensue as regards ownership of the land and who gets the money even intra-family.”
This is not the case elsewhere. Usman Sulaiman a farmer form Jos North explains, “Over here, there are no communal clashes, we have now been united by hunger and hardship experienced all over Nigeria but it is common knowledge that mining especially uncontrolled, like we have here, contribute to greenhouse emission and increases the risk for diseases like cancer. We have not seen their effects yet but, I tell you, there are disasters waiting to happen.
University of Jos researchers found that tin mine waste damages crops in Jos, affecting growth and productivity, in a 2019 study, much like what is narrated by respondents.
Abundance, Financial Gains as Escalator
An estimated 80% of mining in the northern parts of the country is conducted illegally on an artisanal basis, involving over two million people who depend on it for survival. In plateau state abundance of tin makes it easy to engage in this practice.
Ruth Joshua from Barikin Ladi commented, “In this area, kusa (local name for tin) is abundant. Miners do not have to dig very deep to access it, which is why artisanal mining is very prevalent. I also firmly believe the mineral’s abundance makes it challenging for the government to exert full control.”
“Imagine someone who does not own 50,000 naira been offered 4 million naira, they will take it and you cannot blame them. Their work (farming) is very stressful because their practices are still very primitive, and the money for them is an escape from poverty. Only in some cases where the money is not utilised properly do they realise that reverse is the case and lands are not longer accessible for cultivation in times of need.”
“Farmers with land capable of producing 2,000 bags will collect just 2.5 million naira to give up cultivation, this is affecting agriculture more than you can imagine. In the coming years we may not be able to feed our families and community,” she lamented.
Despite abundance and financial opportunity, the likes of Micheal Steven from Bassa LG did not feel safe continuing the illegal trade, his words “I attempted joining – illegal mining – due to financial difficulties, hoping to earn money to fund my education knowing what hundreds of thousands and millions people make however, after visiting a mining site in Bassa, I realised the risks outweighed the rewards.
“The work is difficult; you dig holes deeper than your height to access tin, facing the constant threat of landslides and potential collapse, all in the pursuit of survival, it was not worth in my honest opinion.
Haruna Aliyu also talked about the handsome reward accrued and even hopes for an opportunity to sells his farmland in order to join the ranks of “millionaires”.
“One reality you cannot deny from the whole operations is, people are now benefiting financially and making good money from it, a lot of persons have married and are sponsoring their kids through school, as a result.
“They often overlook the environmental consequences and impact on agriculture and potential threat to our health and well-being. Honestly, if kusa is discovered on my farm and I get good offer, I will take it and invest in other things where million can be made. It will turn the fortune of my family,” Haruna expressed.
Leaders, Law, Disunited Voice Barrier to Accountability
Law enforcement agents and community leaders are said to be accessory to this crime against the state. The no less than N721bn received as bribe by the Nigerian public officials in 2023, in a report from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows such claims may not be far from the truth.
Similarly, at an investigative hearing organised by a committee in Abuja, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa told lawmakers and industry stakeholders that illegal miners are highly connected and often boast of the same everywhere they go.
“Let me share something with you, we do not even complain to anyone. We have a problem, but who do we turn to? Nobody, we are left with no choice but to endure. Do you know why? It is because we have found that security agencies and the joint task force are often protecting the illegal miners, allowing them to continue their activities. A lot of people also believe traditional leaders are also involved, so, there is no point reporting the matter to anyone,” Sati stressed
Ruth re-sounded Sati’s observation saying, “As a community, we feel powerless, we cannot address this issue despite repeatedly speaking to our community leaders. We pleaded with them to encourage those responsible to at least fill in the holes after excavation, but our pleas have for most part gone unheeded, it tells you they are in it together.
“Another unfortunate thing is they do not sort any kind of relief for residents (Cooperate social responsibility). This is largely because community heads are believed to receive some token from these people in order to operate freely,” John reaffirmed their argument.
Sati believes that a “disunited voice”, unlike in the past, coupled with individualism and a “lack of media coverage”, remains the Achilles’ heel of problems in the Plateau.
Stringent Policies and Laws Amendment are Likely Solutions, Professionals Speak
Experts have pinpointed inadequate legislation, anachronistic rules, and a lack of understanding of the consequences as key factors driving the proliferation of illegal mining, allowing perpetrators to evade accountability. They propose solutions to tackle this impunity.
A legal practitioner, Barrister Yeshak Kyenlong Francis, in Jos opined, “The law prohibiting illegal mining says anyone caught without licence is liable to a fine of N500,000 or three years imprisonment or both, unfortunately there is no one to enforce it.
“I also suggest that this time, we avoid putting culprits in detention. Instead, when perpetrators are caught, they should be taken to court for trial and prosecution. As it stands, detention centres allow them to buy their way out without facing the full force of the law, leaving the judiciary with no one to hold accountable. This can be achieved when we discard the obsolete laws or amend them.”
Mustapha Aliyu, a Soil Scientist in Bassa LG identified ramifications of these practices and suggests convergence of stakeholders to map out concrete policy plans going forward.
“The impact is still not fully understood by many. In agricultural terms it leads to soil fertility and land degradation as we are already witnessing. Soil erosion is caused by two factors; geologic (nature) and anthropogenic (human). The anthropogenic like the ones occasioned by illegal miners in Plateau promotes gully erosion, the most devastating type there is.
“Land degradation, on the other hand, refers to the long-term decline in soil productivity and ecosystem function. For instance, degraded land leads to the migration of micro-organisms, and wherever microbial populations are reduced, soil nutrients also decline, since there is an intricate interconnection between soil microbes and fertility. Consequently, farmers often lose interest in production, which, as a result, threatens food security not only in the state but also across the country,” he explained.
Speaking further he added, “There are economic and social impact to consider like displacement of residents, resulting in economic losses such as loss of livelihoods, increased poverty and unemployment. Socially, it disrupts community cohesion and identity. Mineral resources, such as tin, pose a significant health risk due to their carcinogenic properties, thereby threatening people’s health and increasing the likelihood of lung cancer and other chronic respiratory diseases.
“Agriculturists, environmental specialists, geologists, farmers, and policymakers must convene to discuss and devise solid and stringent policies to combat illegal mining,” he concludes.
All efforts to engage community leaders and government officials proved futile, according to elder, “illegal mining is serious and one wants to implicate himself.” Also, phone calls and text message to Mathew Dawap, Managing Director of Plateau Mineral Development Company received no response at press time.
