By: ENACT observer

On 21 February 2025, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang suspended all mining activities in Nigeria's Plateau State in response to escalating illegal operations. The suspension was linked to severe issues including insecurity, environmental degradation, revenue loss, and child labor within the sector.

Nigeria's formal mining sector contributes less than 1% to GDP, with illegal mining estimated to cost the country $9 billion annually in lost revenues. In Plateau State, the focus is on illegal tin mining, a lucrative organized crime involving local and foreign actors who evade licensing, export ore under false documentation, and cause significant environmental and social harm. The practice has transformed landscapes, created hazardous abandoned pits, and fueled instability, including violent clashes.

Following the suspension, a Technical Committee on Mining Reform was established, though its work is ongoing. Analysis suggests solutions may include decentralizing the licensing process to improve access for artisanal miners, implementing community mining schemes modeled on Ghana's approach, and strengthening forensic and customs capabilities to trace illegal ore. Crucially, the government must direct investigations and prosecutions towards the middlemen, brokers, and corrupt officials who facilitate the trade, while actively involving communities in designing sustainable oversight and policing mechanisms.