In the heart of Nigeria’s mineral-rich lands, a silent tug of war is playing out. This is one that pits the federal government’s authority over mining against the states’ control of land. And caught in the middle is a sector brimming with promise but bleeding revenue.
On Monday, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, laid bare the growing friction. Addressing journalists after the 24th Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, Alake painted a picture of confusion and conflict.
This is a situation where state governors, emboldened by the Land Use Act, take unilateral actions like banning mining activities and sealing off companies, despite mining falling under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government.
