Illegal mining denying Nigeria 91% of sector revenue, fuels insecurity – ECOWAS

The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Dr. Mohamed Sidie Tunis, has revealed that Nigeria loses 91 percent of it’s revenue from mining sector to illegal miners, just as he accused the natural resources predators of fuelling insecurity to feather their nest.

The Speaker stated this on Wednesday, January 13, 2024 at the opening of a three day seminar organised by the Parliament on the *Illegal mining and its implications in the ECOWAS Region.”

Dr. Tunis specifically addressed the situation in Nigeria, revealing that a staggering 80% of mining in the country’s northwest region is conducted illegally, costing the nation 91% of potential mining revenue. This illegal activity, he emphasised, fuels insecurity through banditry, kidnapping, and even insurgency..

“The mining sector has the potential to contribute 7.5 per cent to Ghana’s GDP, 10.2 per cent to the GDP of Burkina Faso, 4 per cent to the GDP of Cote d’Ivoire while Nigeria receives only 9% from the sector with 80 per cent of the mining in the country’s North West region carried out illegally.”

He therefore called for the proper regulation of the sector with the expectation that this will make the sector more impactful on the economies of the Member States, as illegal mining of the region’s precious minerals not only robs the region of much needed revenue to grow their economies but has resulted in instances of instability through banditry, kidnapping, thuggery and in some cases insurgency.

Drawing on the ECOWAS Vision 2050 document, Dr. Tunis pointed out the mining sector’s potential to significantly contribute to the GDPs of member states, ranging from 4% to 10.2%. However, illegal mining robs these nations of crucial economic resources and destabilises the region.

The Speaker urged ECOWAS member states to adopt concrete measures to tackle illegal mining, emphasising the need for proper regulation and sustainable solutions.

He stressed that addressing this complex issue requires investigating the underlying factors and collaborating regionally to effectively combat illegal mining and unlock the sector’s true potential.

This call to action comes as Dr. Tunis prepares to conclude his four-year term as Speaker and the fifth legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament comes to an end.

During his tenure, the Parliament has demonstrably fulfilled its commitments, issuing opinions on 83 draft Community Acts and adopting 93 Resolutions. He highlighted the Parliament’s dedication to regional collaboration and progress, despite the challenging regional context.

The ECOWAS Parliament represents the 15 member states of the Economic Community of West African States. With 115 seats and 14 committees, it provides a platform for regional dialogue and action on critical issues like mining, security, and economic development.

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Dr. Tunis’s message serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address illegal mining in West Africa. By working together, ECOWAS member states can implement effective regulations, foster regional cooperation, and harness the mining sector’s potential for economic growth and stability.

The ECOWAS Parliament has a total of 115 seats and fourteen Standing Committees. Each Member State is guaranteed a minimum of allotted five seats. The remaining forty seats are distributed in proportion to the population of each country. Consequently, Nigeria has a total of 35 seats followed by Ghana with eight seats. Côte d’Ivoire is allotted seven seats, whereas Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Senegal have six seats respectively.

The remaining ECOWAS Member States, namely Benin, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo, have five seats each.