. As miners urge FG to check Chinese mining of Lithium in Nigeria
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), yesterday said it arrested 13 suspected illegal miners in Kwara State, with five trucks conveying assorted mineral resources also impounded.
A statement issued in Ilorin by Public Relation Officer (PRO) of NSCDC in the state, Ayeni Olasunkanmi, said the suspects were allegedly operating in Kakafu village, Pategi Local Government Area of the state.
This is even as the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to check the activities of Chinese miners “scavenging” for Lithium in the country.
Olasunkanmi said the suspects were arrested on Tuesday by a team of operatives of the NSCDC and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as officials of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
He added that the operation followed credible intelligence reports received by the EFCC over some suspected illegal miners operating in the area.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects have not been paying royalties to the Federal Government as required by law, and as such, will soon be charged to court upon conclusion of the on-going investigation.
NAN reports that the NSCDC and EFCC Commands in Kwara have intensified joint efforts to tackle illegal mining activities in the state.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects have not been paying royalties to the Federal Government as required by law.
Lithium mining
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of MAN, Dele Ayanleke, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday in Abuja, raised the alarm at the rate at which the Chinese had invaded mining sites searching for lithium minerals.
Lithium is a mineral used in making batteries and has witnessed a price rally over the last few years due to rising demand for electric vehicles.
Ayankele revealed that lithium is one of the main materials used in producing batteries used in powering electric cars and the whole world is clamouring to go green leaving fossil fuel behind.
“Chinese are moving from one mining site to the other, scavenging and mopping our raw lithium mineral at a cheap rate to develop their industries and economy.
“This is not good for the future of our economy; what this means is that Nigeria will end up buying electric batteries from them.
“The Government should safeguard our lithium and revive all the moribund companies producing batteries in Nigeria to start using the lithium to produce electric batteries,” he said.
He also urged the government to withdraw 100% ownership of minerals mined by foreign miners operating in Nigeria, as this is not in the interest of the indigenous mining investors.
“Allowing the Chinese to enter into every mining site is one of the reasons kidnapping is on the increase in Nigeria because they are the major target for kidnappers,” Ayanleke added.
