Nasarawa Govt Raids Lithium Mining Site, Detain Manager

NASARAWA- The Nasarawa State Government arrested the manager of a lithium mining business on Sunday for allegedly conducting illegal operations in the state's Kokona Local Government Area.

Mr Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, led a collaborative team of security agencies, including the police, Department of State Services, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, in the operation.

Speaking to journalists during the operation in the Amba Kure neighborhood, Kokona stated that the company's manager was arrested for continuing to operate on the site while being shut down.

Kwanta stated that the site was shut down in June 2024 when it was determined that the mining firm was operating without community consent or state government approval.

He said, “Instead of the management of the company visiting our office to address the problem and follow the laid down regulations of mining in the state, they went behind to continue operation.

“We got information that they entered the site in the night and started blasting rocks. We had to mobilise and storm the place immediately.

“They are bragging that they have the backing of some prominent persons in the country and that the state government cannot stop them from operating.

“We will no longer tolerate any act of economic sabotage capable of deying us the desired revenue and constituting a security threat.”

Kwanta added that Governor Abdullahi Sule has recently asked the ministry to pursue unlicensed miners and eliminate criminal groups in the sector.

He said that some high-ranking officials were working with mining companies to sabotage the state government's efforts to clean up the industry.

“The natural resources are supposed to be a blessing to our people. So, any company coming to mine in the state must get the community consent and government’s approval to enable the community and state to benefit.

“We will not allow our people to be short-changed by anybody, no matter how highly placed,” the commissioner said.

He so urged miners and mining companies to register with the state government before beginning operations, otherwise they would face sanctions.