Niger Governor Demands Mining Ban In Some Areas

Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has called for a mining ban in locations identified as “problematic” across the state.

Bago made the call on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television.

His call followed the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The governor said Niger State needed stronger intervention from the Nigerian government to tackle illegal mining.

He explained that state authorities faced limits in enforcing mining regulations.

Bago also raised concerns about children working at mining sites across the state.

He said decisive action was needed to stop the practice and protect children from dangerous mining activities.

“I am in between the devil and the Red Sea because, as a governor, yes, it’s in my state. As a governor, I cannot just go and order the police or military to start shooting people or arresting people. As a governor, I can only make advocacy,” he said.

“But these people, because they have tasted the mining money, they cannot leave that side. We need decisive action. We need an executive order from the Presidency or from the Ministry of Mineral Resources to ban mining in certain locations where we have seen they are problematic. Once that is done, it can be enforced,” Bago added.

The governor said illegal mining had become a major challenge in Niger State.

He said the growing involvement of children in artisanal mining was particularly worrying.

According to Bago, mining activities keep children away from school and expose them to serious risks.

The governor’s call comes after renewed scrutiny of mining activities in the state.

The scrutiny followed the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody.