Nasarawa State Officials and Traditional Rulers Accused of Complicity in Illegal Mining

 

Recent allegations have surfaced accusing officials from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as traditional rulers, of complicity in illegal mining activities within the state. These claims were brought to light by the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Mr. Adamu Omadefu, during a plenary session in Lafia.

The motion, presented by Daniel Ogah Ogazi (APC, Kokona East), highlighted the troubling involvement of ministry officials in the facilitation of illegal mining operations. Ogazi raised concerns that these activities are being carried out with the tacit approval and cooperation of certain government officials.

Omadefu (APC, Keana) expressed his alarm over the situation, emphasizing the urgent need for a unified response from all stakeholders to combat the scourge of illegal mining in Nasarawa State. He called for decisive action to address the issue and prevent further environmental degradation.

Musa Ibrahim, a former Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources and current representative of Doma South Constituency, supported the allegations, suggesting that illegal mining cannot occur without the knowledge and involvement of government officials. Ibrahim accused these officials and local community leaders of accepting bribes in U.S. dollars to support and enable illegal mining activities.

Further compounding the issue, Mr. Onarigu Onah Kana (SDP, Loko/Udege) added that traditional rulers are also implicated in the illegal mining crisis. Kana claimed that some of these leaders are contributing to the problem by providing support or turning a blind eye to the unlawful operations occurring within their domains.

The accusations point to a deep-rooted problem of corruption and complicity among both state officials and traditional leaders, raising significant concerns about the governance and environmental management in Nasarawa State. The calls for a thorough investigation and stronger enforcement measures underscore the need to address these serious issues to safeguard the state’s natural resources and uphold the rule of law.