Umar Bago, the governor of Niger State, has said that boys are leaving junior secondary schools to work in artisanal mining because they see it as more profitable than getting an education.
Bago made this disclosure during his recent appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics program, calling artisanal mining a serious problem in the state.
His remarks came after 37 suspected illegal miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The victims were among many suspects arrested during operations on September 15 and 16 near Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna, the capital of Niger State.
After this incident, the federal government suspended Suberu Aniviye, the NSCDC commandant in Niger State, along with 23 other officers, and ordered a full investigation into the deaths.
Bago said that a UNICEF report on Shiroro and other local government areas in the state predicts there may be no boys in JSS2 by 2027 because of artisanal mining.
“We know that gold mining in Niger state has become habitual,” he said.
“The UNICEF report on Shiroro and other LGAs says by 2027, there will not be a single male child in Grade 8, that is JSS2, Grade 7, because all of them are into artisanal mining. They have left classrooms and are not in schools. This is a problem for us.”
According to the governor, the situation was difficult to tackle because the state government lacked direct control over security agencies and could not unilaterally order arrests or other operations against miners.
He said many of the children were unwilling to return to school after experiencing the financial gains from mining.
“But these people, because they have tested the mining money, cannot leave the site,” Bago said.
“We need decisive action. We need an executive order from the presidency, from the ministry of mineral resources, to ban mining in certain locations where we have seen they are problematic. Once that is done, it can be enforced.”
Bago lamented that many residents in areas known for agricultural practices have all taken to mining.
He cited Shiroro as an example, saying the area had historically been largely agrarian before residents abandoned farming for artisanal mining.
“The amount of energy they dissipate in this mining business, if they put half of it into farming, they will do better,” he said.
“Shiroro used to be one of the biggest local governments that was agrarian, but they have abandoned farming for mining. It’s a menace, and there must be deliberate action.”
Asked whether his administration would take stronger action against parents who allow their children to stay out of school and engage in mining, Bago said the government would consider the matter.
“We are going to look at that because it’s a very tall order,” he said.