In Abuja, security chiefs, mining leaders and journalists came together on 20 August 2025 with a shared pledge: to take a united stand against illegal mining and the damage it causes to Nigeria’s economy, environment and communities.
The one-day workshop, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council, carried the theme “Sustaining the Fight Against Illegal Mining: The Role of the Media.” It served as a platform for open dialogue, with speakers stressing that the crisis could only be solved through teamwork and honest reporting.
Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, ACC A. J. Onoja, warned that the country has already lost billions to illegal mining, alongside destroyed farmland and unrest in rural areas. “This fight cannot be won by enforcement agencies alone,” he said. “It requires a broad coalition of government, security, industry, communities, and, most importantly, the media.”
He praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Henry Dele Alake, and Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for backing the creation of the Mining Marshals. He explained that the unit has already dismantled camps, prosecuted offenders, and brought new order to the sector—but also faces hurdles like difficult terrain and smear campaigns. Onoja appealed to journalists for balanced coverage when suspects attempt to spin their stories in the press.
From the police, FCT Commissioner of Police Ajao Adewale described illegal mining as “not just theft, but a fuel for insecurity.” He linked it to banditry, kidnappings, and Nigeria’s estimated \$9 billion annual losses. Hotspots, he noted, include Zamfara for gold, Nasarawa for lithium, and even parts of the FCT such as Gwagwalada and Kuje. “Together, through enforcement, intelligence and enlightenment, we can protect our resources and secure a safer, more prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
Representing the miners, Dele Ayanleke of the Miners Association of Nigeria explained how illegal operators exploit child labour, pollute water, and dig without permits. He urged the media to deepen its knowledge of mining laws, report more stories like the lead poisoning crisis in Zamfara, and keep illegal mining in the spotlight.
Opening the workshop, NUJ FCT Council Chair, Grace Ike, called journalists “gatekeepers of truth” with a duty to investigate and educate. “We must expose the devastating effects of illegal mining and give communities a voice,” she said, promising that NUJ would continue to amplify awareness using both traditional and digital platforms.
By the close of the meeting, the message was clear: the fight against illegal mining is too big for any one group to tackle alone. Only a coalition of security agencies, industry leaders and the media, working together with local communities, can safeguard Nigeria’s resources for the future.
