Kenneth Udeh,Abuja

Resolutions to bring an end to illegal mining and gold smuggling in the country and investigation to an annual loss of 9Billion Dollars in Nigeria's mining sector as result of the aforementioned illegal activities were reached by the Senate on Wednesday.

The decisions were made following a motion moved by Abia-North Senator and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on the need to investigate Nigeria’s yearly loss of 9 Billion US Dollars as result of illegal mining and Gold smuggling.

The Senate in its plenary sesion presided by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo Agege urged the Executive to intensify efforts to combat illegal mining activities and seal up all revenue leakages from such clandestine activities; and the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy to investigate this matter and report back to the Senate in 6 weeks.

Earlier his debate,Kalu disclosed that Nigeria lost close to $54b from 2012 2018 due to illegal smuggling of gold. While also pointing out that the country is said to be losing about $9 billion yearly to illegal mining and gold exportation, a huge amount of money unaccounted for through under the radar sales of the expensive commodity.

Kalu stated that the activities of unlicensed miners were becoming prevalent within the industry and the incessant smuggling of the solid mineral out of the country by middlemen and smugglers, is leading to loss of government revenue.

According to Kalu gold mining operations in Nigeria is capable of providing no fewer than 250,000 jobs and over $500 million dollars annually in royalties and taxes to the federal government and as mineral resources.

Raising additional concerns Kalu explained that jobs and revenue accrued to the mining sector would further diversify the nation's economy and improve the foreign exchange reserve. He elucidated that due to Nigeria's current estimated gold reserves of over 200million ounces, most of which have not been exploited, developing sustainable programmes that will catalyse increased investment in the extraction and refining of gold sourced from mines in Nigeria, is indeed vital.

Making reference to data obtained from the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Development, Kalu revealed that there are gold deposits in Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Edo, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Oyo, Kogi, Zamfara, Osun and Kaduna states.

Kalu argued that if the country conserves her gold reserves, and ensures effective exploitation, the accruing revenue would surpass that of oil and gas.

Kalu drew the attention of colleagues to section 44 (3) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Iaw of 1999 which provides that ownership and control of all minerals in Nigeria is vested in the federal government, which is mandated to manage such natural resources in a manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.

In his lead discourse Senator Kalu told the Senate illegal mining is a major factor responsible for the stunted growth in the mining sector.

He said "Distinguished colleagues,you will agree with me that illegal mining is one of the key challenges hindering the development of Nigeria’s mining industry. If we don’t fix this hemorrhage of our economy, we would literally bleed to death.

"In fact according to Signal One International, SOI, a US based company, disclosed in a 2016 report that Nigeria has lost over $50 billion in gold revenue tax in two years as a result of illegal mining and exportation of unprocessed gold. Also reports from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI indicated that Nigeria lost about nine billion dollars to illegal mining operations and gold exportation from 2014 to 2015 and in six years accrued to $54 billion dollars", Kalu concluded.

Kalu beckoned the Senate to intensify further efforts to combat illegal mining activities,seal up all revenue leakages.

Contributing to the debate Senator Smart Adeyemi expressed support for the motion , the Kogi west Senator raised concerns on global drop in the demand for crude oil and gas which was the nation's main source of revenue. He stressed the need to protect the mining sector which would serve as an alternative source of revenue for the country.

In his words " The global economy today is contemplating how to reduce the use of crude oil and gas . In years to come many nations that depend on oil and gas will start looking at renewable energy. In essence pioneer producing nations will start looking for an alternative. Today countries are finding it hard to sell their oil.

"If you look at Zamfara state there is an enormous deposit of Gold. In the night you see trailers conveying foreigners and these are people involved in illegal mining. We have to engage the executives, because the solid mineral sector needs serious attention beyond just talking.

Senator Ajayi Borofice in his support to the motion said the Nation's Gold deposit was beyond that of South Africa , stating the need for the sector to be protected from exploitation.

https://thenigeriadaily.com/2020/12/09/senate-grants-kalus-motion-to-end-illegal-mining-and-gold-smuggling-in-nigeria/

When will they grant the south south the power to control their own resources or when will the south south man up and demand for resource control or are they afraid of their Fulani masters

Fahdiga1:
When will they grant the south south the power to control their own resources or when will the south south man up and demand for resource control or are they afraid of their Fulani masters

the south South should fight for their self or are they waiting for us to fight for them. Asiri dokubo over to you

h

Sure Kalu can be trusted with this job

Lopsided entity called Nigeria.

Hian.... Spits

mtchewwwwwwwwww. oyo

Thieves

Dead on arrival

Nigerians like to talk nonsense, $9b ko $9B ni. South Africa the capital of gold mining using industrial mining methods and the might of fortune 500 companies only exports $3B of gold a year. Is it Artisan miners with basket and sieve that will be realising $9b a year in this Nigeria?


I can bet you all the gold they are mining currently is less than $50m a year.....if that, I will be surprised if it is even up to $10m!

"Newmont Corporation, based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, United States, is the world's largest gold mining company.[3] Incorporated in 1921, it has ownership of gold mines in Nevada, Colorado, Ontario, Quebec, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Australia, Ghana, Argentina, Peru, and Suriname" It's total revenue from all it's operations in 11 countries is $9b and it's in Nigeria that artisan miners like Lamidi in Ilesha and Abu in Zamfara with cutlass and hoe and generating $9B? is okay o!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newmont_Corporation


That said Illegal mining should be tackled.

FG should continue paying Zamfara for her gold




But wetin concern me na loan

Damnnn niggarrrr
Isoright

Me shaking my head what is the point

South south elders, governors and senators are toothless bulldog.

A welcome development...


Only if they will enforce it...

Ass lick senators.
I don't take anything done at the upper chamber serious any longer

This is a nice move though

Make he no carry am cum creek ooooo.....

Else we go stitch am....

The Chinese will come to Nigeria and be heavily involved in illegal mining?? They will be arrested and then be released!? Chai! When Nigerians are dying in their jails for just Imigration issues? Try illegal mining in China and have your organs harvested! We play too much in this crooked country..

A country blessed with oil & gold still..........to cut the story short Nigeria is cursed.

Ok. Good one. keep it up. Kalu has a way of getting what he wants.

He knows politics very well , just that he didn't do well in his second tenure as governor in Abia State.

How's it going to affect za common man? Mtchew

Busy body- Kalu- as usual.

Fetching rain water after the rains have gone low.

Instead of them to tackle corruption in government they want to deprive artisinal miners of their daily source of livelihood

Hmmmm. Oga oo

Zamfara gold belongs to Zamfara people while Niger Delta oil belongs to every Nigerian.
The reality is that only Igbos can raise this kind of motion which can lead to enmity with Fulani people while others will claim 'we no follow Igbos do am' when issues arise

President material ����

Good

Babaken:
South south elders, governors and senators are toothless bulldog.

Bleep you