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The Kogi State Government has expressed concern that the state is not getting enough economic benefit from its rich mineral resources because mining remains largely under the control of the Federal Government.
Bode Adeyemi, Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Energy Matters, made the disclosure during an interview with ARISE News on Monday. He argued that the state government does not have the constitutional and legal authority to directly regulate or supervise mining activities within Kogi.
“I can say largely that mining has not been beneficial to us as a government and to us as a people because we lack the legal capacity and we lack the constitutional power to superintend over these natural resources that God freely has given to us as a people,” Adeyemi said.
According to him, the situation has strengthened calls for reforms to the laws governing Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, particularly to give state governments a greater role in managing mineral resources located within their territories.
Adeyemi also linked the issue to insecurity, particularly illegal mining activities in parts of the state. He said the absence of direct regulatory powers makes it difficult for the state government to properly determine which mining operations are legitimate and which ones are operating illegally.
He explained that effective regulation would require closer cooperation between the Federal Government and state authorities, including proper profiling of mining operations and verification of licences held by operators.
“If you have agreed with me that the government at the subnational level has no legal or constitutional power to manage the mining ecosystem,” he said, “it should not be difficult to understand that the state government, of course, will continue to face a lot of difficulties in managing what is regarded now as illegal mining.”
Kogi Denies Imposing Illegal Levies
The governor’s aide also rejected allegations that the Kogi State Government imposes taxes or levies on mining companies operating in the state.
Adeyemi described the claims as allegations that have not been supported with verifiable evidence and challenged anyone with proof of such charges to present it.
“I want to say very emphatically here that these statements actually still exist within the realms of allegations,” he said.
He maintained that the state government would be willing to investigate any credible evidence of illegal charges or other activities allegedly linked to its officials.
State Secures Mining Licences
Despite the limitations imposed by the existing legal framework, Adeyemi said the Kogi Government has begun taking steps to participate directly in mining by obtaining licences for some operations.
He said the administration of Governor Ododo had introduced an approach that allows the state to register mining companies and obtain the necessary licences to participate in the sector.
“At this level, especially for now, the best any state can do is to probably join in registering mining companies, to get mining licenses for some of these activities,” he said.
However, he stressed that obtaining mining licences does not automatically give the state regulatory authority over the sector.
“So, as a state, the best we can do is to just do the business of mining, which is just at elementary stage, but we cannot have any regulatory authority or power as far as the current law as still in place.”
Call for Reform of Solid Minerals Sector
Adeyemi called for the restructuring of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, drawing comparisons with reforms carried out in the electricity industry.
He argued that allowing states to play a greater role in the sector could help unlock the economic potential of mineral resources, create jobs and ensure that host communities benefit more directly from mining activities.
He also raised concerns about the environmental impact of mining and the effect of poorly regulated operations on communities.
“We cannot remove the fact that a lot of mining companies are ripping the people off,” Adeyemi said. “We cannot remove the fact that a lot of their activity are actually creating a lot of environmental issues that are catastrophic and dangerous to the wellbeing and the wellness of the people.”
On illegal mining, he said the state would continue working with the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders to address the problem, noting that mining remains an important security issue for Kogi.
Adeyemi maintained that better coordination and regulation of the industry could help protect the environment, improve security, create employment for young people and ensure that communities receive greater economic value from the mineral resources found in their areas.
