The Senate has alleged that retired military generals are involved in illegal mining operations, undermining Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, made the accusation during a budget presentation by Senator Sampson Ekong, Chair of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, to the Committee on Appropriation.
Oshiomhole criticised the Federal Government’s inaction, urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to tackle illegal mining with the same intensity as the fight against oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.
He claimed that “retired generals” use helicopters to transport gold, generating billions while Nigeria suffers. He also alleged that these illegal miners arm local groups and utilise advanced equipment to exploit resources.
Highlighting the urgency, Oshiomhole called for Joint Task Force deployment to combat illegal mining, citing existing data and surveys identifying affected areas.
In the same session, Senator Ekong recommended a significant increase in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development’s 2025 budget, proposing N539 billion, up from the executive’s initial N9 billion allocation, to unlock the sector’s potential.