S enator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has alleged that retired military generals are actively engaged in illegal mining activities across Nigeria.
The senator made this claim during the presentation of the 2025 budget report by Senator Sampson Ekong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Speaking as a member of the Appropriations Committee, Oshiomhole stressed that Nigeria's economic diversification goals could be jeopardized unless the current administration takes decisive action against illegal mining.
A Known Issue with Retired Generals
Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, described the involvement of retired generals in illegal mining as an open secret. He disclosed that he had previously raised this issue in a letter to a former president, urging action against the illegal activities.
He also cited personal experience, sharing challenges encountered during primary elections in Zamfara State, which he attributed to disruptions caused by illegal mining operations. "A team I sent to oversee the primaries in Zamfara reported significant difficulties due to the illegal mining activities in the area," he noted.
A Call for Military Intervention
To curb the menace, Oshiomhole proposed deploying military forces, including the Army and Joint Task Forces (JTFs), comprising the Army, Police, and Air Force, to tackle illegal mining and oil theft. "Decisive military intervention is necessary, even if it means neutralizing those involved in such activities," he remarked.
The Senate panel echoed Oshiomhole's concerns, urging security agencies to prioritize the issue. To strengthen the fight against illegal mining, the committee recommended a substantial increase in the budget allocation for the Ministry of Solid Minerals.
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