EFCC arrests Chinese for suspected illegal mining

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it arrested a Chinese man for illegal mining in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Gang Deng, 29, was arrested by EFCC officers on Friday, according to a statement from the commission's spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, on Saturday.

The terse statement says Mr. Deng was caught "in possession of raw minerals without permission".

"A truck loaded with minerals, suspected to be lepidolite, was recovered from him.

"The suspect will be brought to justice as soon as the investigation is complete," the statement read.

Mr. Deng is just the latest among Chinese nationals who have been arrested for illegal mining in different parts of Nigeria over the years.

In 2020, the Osun State government announced the arrest of 27 illegal miners, 17 of whom are believed to be Chinese nationals and 10 locals, including a local traditional leader (Baale).

Last year, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Uche Ogah, identified the complicity of security officers as one of the challenges facing the federal government in the fight against the illegal mining.

He cited the lack of adequate manpower and low level technology for the ministry as other challenges facing the government.

Mr. Ogah made the comments during a two-day public hearing hosted by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mining, Steel Development and Metallurgy in September 2021.

The hearing was to investigate the loss of $9 billion a year due to illegal mining and gold smuggling.

It was organized to enable relevant agencies to make their contributions in four bills, namely; Nigerian Minerals Development Corporation Establishment Bill 2021, Solid Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission Bill 2021, Institute of Minerals Management Bill 2021, Asphalt and Explosives Act 1964 Repeal and Reinstatement Bill 2021.

The Senate had, in December 2020, mandated the panel to investigate the loss of N9 billion a year, as reported by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

The mandate followed consideration of a motion on illegal mining and gold smuggling into the country put forward by Abia Senator Orji Kalu.

In his presentation, the minister urged the committee to set up a panel or have authorized personnel like the EFCC or the police, to carry out the investigation.

While he stressed the need to establish a regulatory framework to monitor mining activities, he informed the panel that gold smuggling is mainly done using private jets, hence the need for involve the Ministry of Aviation.

Government efforts include formalizing informal mining operations, raising awareness and campaigning, and strengthening zonal field offices.

"Challenges in tackling illegal mining include collusion of illegal miners with security guards, lack of adequate manpower, low level technology and invasion of mining communities ", he said.

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