Weak Enforcement of Mining Regulations, Inadequate Govt Oversight Threats to National Security, Says Report 

Linus Aleke in Abuja 

A recent report has revealed that weak enforcement of mining regulations and inadequate federal oversight in West Africa and the Sahel enable the exploitation of mineral resources at the expense of local communities, resulting in environmental degradation, food insecurity, and threats to national security.

The findings of a study on mining host communities, conducted by the Nigerian Federation of Mining Host Communities in collaboration with Global Rights Nigeria, further revealed that the proliferation of unregulated and illegal artisanal mining fuels violence, environmental degradation, and socio-political unrest.

The report, which was officially unveiled at the ongoing 5th West African Mining Host Communities Indaba in Abuja, also stated that the legal framework — which vests exclusive control of mineral resources in the federal government — creates a disconnect with state governments and discourages their active involvement in co-governing mining activities. 

This, the report said, has led to governance gaps that foster insecurity.

Strong evidence, the report added, indicates the involvement of unlicensed foreign miners, particularly Chinese nationals and West Africans, which has further exacerbated mining-related insecurity.

According to the report, “There are indications of collaboration between illegal miners and organised criminal groups, including those funding terrorism in the subregion. It stated that mining regulatory agencies often fail to verify the technical competence of applicants, leading to licences being issued to unqualified companies that employ unregulated and untrained miners.”

The report noted that local communities are frequently excluded from decision-making processes, fuelling resentment and conflict. 

Persistent socio-economic challenges, including poverty and unemployment, it revealed drive many unskilled citizens into illegal mining.

“Allegations of state capture — instances where political actors provide protection and cover for sponsors of illicit mining — were repeatedly highlighted in interviews. Women in mining host communities are said to be disproportionately affected by mining-related insecurity, with many reporting incidents of sexual harassment and gender-based violence linked to ongoing mining activities. They are also frequently excluded from decision-making processes and economic benefits,” Global Rights report said.

To address these challenges in the mining and extractive sub-sector, the report recommended that authorities strengthen regulatory frameworks, enhance community engagement, increase funding for mining regulation, and promote sustainable artisanal mining. 

It also called for the implementation of comprehensive environmental regulations and the strengthening of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) task force against illegal mining.

The report further urged the government to revise and rigorously enforce mining laws to close loopholes that enable illegal operations. 

This, it said, should include mandatory technical and infrastructural audits of companies applying for licences, to ensure they demonstrate the capacity and readiness to conduct sustainable mining, rather than relying on informal artisanal miners.

It advocated for the inclusion of host communities in decision-making processes related to the approval of mining licences and ongoing operations. 

According to the report, such inclusion would help protect community rights, foster trust, and ensure that resource extraction contributes to local development and remediation.

“Additionally, it recommended the allocation of greater resources to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to enhance monitoring and oversight. Investments in advanced ICT tools such as drones and remote monitoring systems were also encouraged to improve efficiency,” it said.

The report stressed the need to properly equip and empower the NSCDC task force to combat illegal mining, noting that this task force should integrate law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, and local vigilante groups to improve coordination in mining communities.

It also called for support for the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) through legal recognition, training, and access to resources. This, it argued, would help mitigate the harmful impacts of illegal mining while providing regulated and sustainable livelihoods.

Lastly, the report emphasised the importance of enforcing strict environmental standards to address pollution and land degradation caused by mining. 

Stronger collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) Department, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) was described as essential to achieving this goal.