The President of Gemstones Miners and Marketing Association of Nigeria (GMMAN), Niran Ajibade, has emphasised that the demand by the Northern Governors and the Traditional Rulers Council to suspend all mining operations within the Northern region for six months will worsen insecurity rather than curb it.
Ajibade, who spoke to a news channel insisted that “there should not be any suspension at all.”
The warning came following a communiqué issued after the joint meeting of Northern Governors’ Forum and the Traditional Rulers’ Council in Kaduna on Monday, where the Governors demanded a six-month suspension of all mining activities in the region, attributing illegal mining as a major factor responsible for the worsening insecurity in many states. The Northern leaders also agreed to set up a regional security trust fund in order to effectively confront the security crises in the region.
The president of GMMAN stated that a blanket halt to mining activities would cripple lawful operators while expanding ungoverned spaces for criminals. “We don’t want to throw away the baby with the bath water,” he said. “We must distinguish between legal, legitimate mining and illegal mining.”
He stressed that licensed miners are known to the government, fulfil statutory obligations, and contribute significantly to economic activity and local security. “Legitimate miners create employment and ensure security in their immediate areas. They are adding value and even battling insecurity,”he stated.
Ajibade argued that suspending all mining would force compliant operators to withdraw, creating a vacuum that illegal miners would quickly occupy. “If you ban the legitimate miners, they will obey the law. But illegal miners are not obeying any law. They will move into those spaces, creating more insecurity,” he warned.
He urged the federal government to focus on enforcement and capacity-building rather than shutdowns. “Illegal mining is illegal and stays banned. It is for the government to build the capacity to properly regulate the sector. If you don’t have a licence, let them go after you,” he said.
Highlighting the economic cost of a suspension, Ajibade noted that many legitimate miners have invested heavily in exploration, equipment, partnerships, and community obligations: “Some of them have spent billions and are moving to the mining phase. To stall that for six months will be a huge loss.”
He emphasised that licensed operators fulfil environmental and community development responsibilities that strengthen local economies and reduce insecurity. “Once you curb illegal mining and encourage legitimate miners, the economy is boosted,” he added. “When you talk about rising non-oil exports, a majority comes from mineral resources.”
Ajibade further maintained that the solution lies in strengthening regulation rather than punishing compliant investors. “We shouldn’t talk about a blanket ban or any suspension at all,” he insisted. “People are fulfilling all their obligations under the law; they are paying their workers, paying service fees and contributing to the economy.”