FG can use mining to end poverty, insecurity in Nigeria - Expert

By Gambo Tsafe

A mining expert based in Kaduna, Engineer Kashim Yusuf Mshelia says  mining sector has the capacity to eradicate poverty and insecurity in Nigeria due to its long value chain.

Engineer Mshelia who stated this while speaking with journalists in Kaduna said the only thing that is currently preventing the sector from reaching its potentials is lack of coordination between the Federal and the state governments..

He called called for synergy between the Federal and the State Governments, inorder allow the states to handle the marketing aspect of the mineral resources and get some direct revenue before the 13 per cent derivation.

Engineer Kashim Yusuf Mshelia, a miner of 40 years standing, lamented that, despite mining being in the exclusive list, states governments were in the habit of preventing licensed holders miners from working in the sites.

He advocated for Government to use mining as a source of eradicating poverty in Nigeria. 

"With mining, we can eradicate poverty, because it has a long value-chain that people can key into and have good livelihoods"

“The challenges facing the mining sector are enormous, but the basically insecurity and undue interference by way of lack of coordination between the federal government and the states, are the major challenges facing the sector.

Engineer Kashim Mshelia also stressed the need for the Federal Government to urgently address a situation where it will issue license to Miners and state governments would prevent them from working. 

He described the action of some state governors as very disturbing and dragging the mining sector aback which according to him mining is in the exclusive list.

“This lack of synergy is not only affecting the licensed miners, it is what is largely responsible for illegal mining in the country. So, there is need for synergy between the Federal and State governments, to allow the mining industry function as it should be and work for Nigeria by way of eradicating poverty"

According to him, Most of the state governments are blaming their actions on insecurity. 

"In fact, they are saying that, banditry is associated with mining activities. To us, miners, this is totally a wrong notion. There is no connection between the two.

“The way out of  this problem in my opinion is that, though mining is in the exclusive list, the marketing aspect of it should be left for the state government, instead of being in the hands of individuals. 

“Trading of all mineral resources within a particular state, should be conducted by the state government. There should be establishment of buying centers, which would allow the state governments to realize some revenues directly even before 13 per cent derivation. While the Federal Government should continue the administration and monitoring of the mining activities"

“The security challenges we are having presently is as a result of poverty, because nobody that has a profitable source of income would abandon it and go for criminality.

“So, the state governments should allow mining activities to go on, because this is a sector that can accommodate a very large number of people. If that is done, it will employ a lot of people and eradicate insecurity and poverty.,” he said.