A mining company, Timadix Geomin Consult Nigeria, has criticized the Northern Governors Forum for proposing a six-month suspension of mining activity to combat insecurity, saying this will increase terrorism rather than addressing the issue.
The company’s CEO, engineer Tim Eldon, said in an interview that implementing the proposal based on available indices on the ground would be counterproductive and promote terrorism.
He emphasized that the main reason why terrorism and banditry are linked to mining is that mining operations have not been completely cleaned up, adding that the bad eggs, particularly the illegal miners who were complicit with the elements, are still having a field day.
“This is not the first time that some governors have tried to suspend mining. When mining was suspended in Plateau State, only the official mining companies stopped mining; the illegal ones continued, thus worsening the situation.
“So by suspending mining, more space is allowed for these people, the illegals, to fill the bushes. So we have the first paradox of the whole scenario. All the states that suspend mining as a result of insecurity, at the end of the day, realize that illegal mining is spreading even further in those states because the law-abiding companies, which are official companies that can always be held responsible and accountable, will now withdraw, allowing all the illegals to go. to their mines.
“When bunkering was happening in the South, state governments didn’t wake up and say that because people were bunkering, they should stop crude oil exploration. Why? Because it would negatively affect the government. The government opposed it, fought and won, and the drilling companies kept working.
“Why can’t the same be done in the north? Protect mining companies and ensure that the bad guys, the illegal miners, are arrested. It is unfortunate that not much attention has been given to the sector,” he remarked.
He explained that legal mining companies do not operate in isolation but under the protection of Civil Protection, Police and other security agencies, and that if they are suspended, the bad eggs will take over.
Engineer Eldon, who denounced the assumption that mining companies support terrorism, praised the operations of Federal Mines Marshall, saying they have done an excellent job protecting minefields and workers.
The CEO went on to say that if the idea of the six-month suspension is implemented, it will cause economic suffering and loss of jobs in the industry, as well as blocking much desperately needed income and cutting off a very important artery in the economy.
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