Plateau govt links youth education drop to illegal mining

From Jude Owuamanam, Jos

The Plateau State government has said that, because of flourishing illegal mining activities, youths in the state have abandoned education and other meaningful sources of livelihood.

The government, represented by the State Technical Committee on Mining Reforms, at a press briefing held at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos on Friday, said that this has led to numerous social vices, thus creating a serious insecurity problem in the state.

The Commissioner for Environment, Peter Gwom, said the suspension imposed on mining in Plateau was to curtail the dangers associated with illegal mining activities in the state.

The commissioner, who was flanked by the Information Commissioner, Mrs Joyce Ramnap, and top security officers, said that the Indigenization Decree of the early 1970s and the closure of the Nigerian Mining Corporation led to the exit of mechanised mining outfits, leaving a vacuum that was subsequently filled by unregulated and illegal mining activities.

This, he said, has resulted in severe land degradation, environmental pollution, increased child labour, an illicit drug trade, the proliferation of arms, banditry, and kidnappings, among other dangerous trends.

“It is particularly disheartening that many young people in our state are abandoning their education to engage in artisanal mining, thereby exposing themselves to exploitation, drug abuse, prostitution, and life-threatening health hazards.

“In light of these disturbing trends, His Excellency, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, in consultation with stakeholders, took the bold and necessary decision to temporarily suspend mining activities in the state through Executive Order 001, 2025,” he said.

He expressed dismay that the intention of the government has been misconstrued by some mischief-makers, who are introducing ethnic and religious sentiments to cause disaffection in the state.

The commissioner said that, in order to sanitise the mining sector, the government has further inaugurated the technical committee, composed of individuals of impeccable integrity from diverse backgrounds, including representatives of state ministries, departments, agencies, federal mining regulatory agencies, the Miners Association, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and security agencies, to be chaired by the State Commissioner of Justice/Attorney-General.

According to him, the mandate of the committee is to engage all stakeholders in the mining sector and develop a framework for ensuring that mining activities in the state align with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and the Mining Regulations, 2011.

This committee, he said, is tasked with critical responsibilities such as the verification of Community Development Agreements (CDAs), verification of title holders and mining cooperatives, and mining community engagement and sensitisation, amongst others.

He therefore appealed to traditional institutions, religious and community leaders, and licensed miners to support the temporary suspension of all mining activities in their domains as a necessary step towards restoring sanity in the sector.