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Policy advocacy platform tasks Nigerian government on recovery of gold assets in mining sector

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Policy advocacy platform tasks Nigerian government on recovery of gold assets in mining sector

By: Michael Mike

The Think Tank on Nigeria (TTON) organisation, a policy advocacy platform has called on Nigerian Government to get more serious about recovery of gold assets in the mining sector through transparent national and international bidding.

This was contained in a-19 point resolution reached after a deliberation which focused on the theme, ’The mining sector and national development’, adding that the recovered gold can be put in a secured vault

The organisation in the communique endorsed by 79 members pointed out that a national mining company should be created to own the assets and be listed on the gold stock exchange in London, United States of America (USA) and Hong Kong.

The other resolutions stated that gold refineries must be established to refine some of the gold from time to time to make ornaments and jewelry for sale locally and internationally.

The advocacy platform added that this same process can be applied to over 36 other minerals available in Nigeria in commercial quantities but currently exploited by artisanal or illegal miners, stressing that government should industrialize the sector by supporting it with more mechanized and advanced mining technology.

Some of the resolutions include: “This would lead to the reduction of unemployment within the country especially within the mining localities. The local miners are knowledgeable, skilled, and organized. All they need is motivation from either the organized corporate sector or people-oriented investors.”

*The Minister that will be appointed to man the Mines and Steel Ministry must possess the requisite knowledge of the industry. He / She, like other Ministers, must be ready to sign a performance contract that will spell out timelines to effectively diversify the Nigerian economy from oil to mining.

*There must be a seamless synergy between the State and Federal Government. The Federal Government must give exploration licenses to the States with the natural minerals; in order to harmonize the artisanal miners properly into cooperative societies.

*There should be a declaration of a state of emergency in this sector as most of the precious minerals are being mined illegally and sold every day without returns to Government. Empowerment of the Local Government Areas to become major stakeholders in these mining sites will ease the tension of insurgency and burden exploitation by some faceless foreigners. Using representative fractions, the Local tier should exercise higher authority over fiscal reality.

*There must be political willpower and readiness from the security operatives to combat the mess of natural resources exploitation in Nigeria. Remedial measures should be put in place by the Regulatory agency or Ministry, mandating Mining companies, to put in place, measures to remediate the environment that has been negatively impacted by mining exploration activities.

*Mining activities leave host communities environmentally devastated. Hence, it became mandatory for them to restore the mined sites to its original topography. Mining operations/activities generate fine dust and soot that are dangerous to humans. Mining companies should be mandated to provide basic primary health facilities to host communities. A dispensary, managed by a local matron, will be ideal in a mining community.

*Where host communities/villages share proximity location with mineral mining locations, for health reasons, such communities should be relocated far from mining locations to prevent health hazards to children and others.

*Government, Ministry, or any other regulatory agency, must create a unit to supervise remedial work to ‘heal’ the environment of local communities that have been devastated by mining operations, with a view to managing the environment, and post- mining operations situation.”

The communique said the locals/villagers must be aware and properly oriented to hold the miners accountable for all forms of land degradation that might have occurred in the process of mining operations.

*Part of the ways to improve what the government is doing is PPP (Public Private Partnership). Considering this private participation, there is a need to break down the value chain, and the participatory roles expected from the private sector, this step of PPP could stop and stabilize the theft currently experienced in the mining industry

*The Nigerian Customs Service must rise to the occasion of their responsibilities to curb the excesses of illegal exportation of these resources out of Nigeria which evidently goes through the border post of Nigeria.

*The 13% derivative approach given to the oil producing states should be applicable to the mining host states. The same 13% derivative should be allocated to the mining host states. Environmental impact assessment, health risk analysis, and other safety procedures must be adopted to ensure residents of these mining locations are free of health endemics.”

The organisation has 286 members of various professions, drawn from the geo-political zones of Nigeria, charged with discussing Nigerian politics, as well as analysing political candidates and policies.

*The goal is to proffer solutions to policies and developmental challenges which the country might be faced with, through diverse contributions of expertise in different fields, which could be converted to veritable actions if adopted, to bring needed positive changes.

The discussion moderated by the Convener, Engr. Dideolu Falobi, noted that despite the sector’s potential to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the nation, it has remained depleted, underutilized, and underproductive to the disadvantage of national development.

‘Rather, the sector has become tainted with consistent. Today, the labour force in the mining sector is largely informal, under-trained, and underpaid among others. How can that be changed?’, the meeting stated.

Policy advocacy platform tasks Nigerian government on recovery of gold assets in mining sector

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Police arrest two suspected informants to bandits in Kwara

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Police arrest two suspected informants to bandits in Kwara

By: Zagazola Makama

Two suspected informants to bandits have been arrested by the police in Kwara State.

According to a police sources, the suspects, Abdullah Yakubu, 27, and Jamilu Hamidu, 25, both from Kaima, were arrested on April 26, 2025, in Chikanda via Yashikira.

They were brought to the station by a retired DSP and vigilante members.The suspects, who had escaped from Kainji National Park, confessed to providing information to bandits operating within the park. They reportedly received ₦20,000 for each tip-off given to the criminals.

Police arrest two suspected informants to bandits in Kwara

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Army troops rescue Deputy Commander of NDLEA officer, five others from kidnappers in Taraba

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Army troops rescue Deputy Commander of NDLEA officer, five others from kidnappers in Taraba

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with other security agencies rescued six persons, including a senior officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), from suspected kidnappers in Taraba State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the rescue followed a distress call received at about 11:40 p.m. on April 27 from a youth leader, Abe Samuel, who reported that a Toyota Hilux vehicle had come under attack along the Wukari–Kente Road.

Responding swiftly, the troops deployed to the area and found the abandoned vehicle with registration number FG 117-B03 and a punctured tire, but the occupants were missing.

A joint search and rescue operation was immediately launched, and by 6:00 a.m. on April 28, troops successfully rescued the Deputy Commander of NDLEA Zone 1, Ibadan, Musa Hudu, and five other victims from a nearby bush.

The victims were unharmed, and preliminary investigation revealed that they had fled into the bush after three armed men attacked their vehicle and shot at them with a dane gun.

The victims were safely escorted out of the area and allowed to proceed with their journey after their vehicle was repaired.

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Rival gangs clash at wedding, one dead in Kontagora, Niger State

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Rival gangs clash at wedding, one dead in Kontagora, Niger State

By Zagazola Makama

A deadly clash between rival gangs erupted at a wedding ceremony in Bayan-Waya area of Kontagora, Niger State, on April 27, 2025, resulting in the death of one man.

According the a police source, the fight involved members of rival groups known locally as “Sarasuka.” During the altercation, Aliyu Abubakar, 25, from Gangare Sagi Area, was seriously injured.

A team of police officers quickly responded to the scene and rushed the victim to Kontagora General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The sources said efforts are ongoing to arrest the culprits involved in the fatal incident.

Rival gangs clash at wedding, one dead in Kontagora, Niger State

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