Nuj workshop: CP Ajao Adwale identifies Mining Iillegal as an act that feeds insecurity

Nuj workshop: CP Ajao Adwale identifies Mining Iillegal as an act that feeds insecurity

… while Grace Ike urges journalists to investigate, educate the public to his activities

By Raphael Ekpang

Abuja (basic reporter) Police commissioner, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Cp Ajao Adwale, has identified illegal extraction as a law that feeds insecurity across the country, describing the act as more than simple theft. Meanwhile, the president of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (Nuj) FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike described illegal mining as a threat to lives, environment and security, then invited journalists to investigate and educate the public on his activities without prejudice.

CP Adwale, who spoke in a one -day seminar at the Nuj FCT secretariat underlined how illegal mining leads to bandits, kidnappings and huge financial losses, stating that Nigeria is losing up to $ 9 billion per year according to the initiative for the transparency of the extractive industries (in the in the).

“Illegal extraction is not just a simple economic crime; it is an act that feeds insecurity, degrades our environment, undermines legitimate investments and steals our nation of vital resources,” he said.

He highlighted hotspots as Zamfara for Gold and Nasarawa for lithium and even points in the territory of the federal capital (FCT) such as Gwagwalada and Kuje, where arrests were made. The commissioner noticed that powerful people often hide behind these operations, using foreigners as fronts.

He invited journalists to help sharing suggestions, investigating money paths and educating people. “Together, through application, intelligence and lighting, we can protect our resources and protect a safer and more prosperous Nigeria,” he concluded.

The hybrid workshop organized by the GRACE IKE NUJ FCT manager in line with his main role of the approach of the Agenda, collected the interested parties critical on Wednesday 20 August 2025 in a day seminar to make brainstorming on how to deal with this problem that damages the economy, the environment and

The seminar with the theme “Support the fight against illegal mining: the role of the media” was designed to bring together the critical interested parties to unite the forces with the media against the growing problem of illegal mining.

The heads of security, mining leaders and journalists have put together a shared commitment in working by hand, underlining that teamwork is the key to stopping illegal miners that steal the nation’s resources.

For his part, the commander of the mineral marshals, Acca Aj Onoja, of Nigerian security and the body of civil defense (NSCDC) who spoke passionately about the need for all to fight these illegal miners, explained how the illegal extraction cost Nigeria Miliardi in lost money, ruined and shaken the troubles in the communities. “The fight against illegal mining in Nigeria cannot be won only by the control agencies, but through a large coalition that includes the government, the actors of the sector, the communities and, above all, the media,” he said.

Onoja praised government efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Solid Minerals, dr. Henry dele Alake, the Minister of the Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the general commander of the ENSCC, prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to clean up the sector by creating Marshal Mining.

He stressed that this unit is not an ordinary group: it is supported by strong laws and a rigorous code of conduct to guarantee equity and tenacity.

“We dismantled illegal mineral fields, arrested and pursued, ensuring that emerging policies of the federal government for the mining sector are working,” he added.

But he also warned challenges such as difficult landscapes and attempts to blackmail them through the media. He urged journalists to report in a fair way: “When individuals under investigation run to the press to make their selfish sides of history turn, supporting the victimization despite the violations of the law, we ask for a balanced report that reflects the complexity of our work”.

Furthermore, Mr. Dele Ayanleke, national president of the Miners Association of Nigeria, who represented the miners of the seminary explained what illegal extraction truly means, from the excavation without permits to use dangerous chemicals or child work.

He warned the damage: lost money from the government, polluted water, ruined land and community fights. “Illegal extraction is a serious problem in Nigeria, which affects both the economy and the environment. The fight against it requires continuous effort and the media play a critical role in supporting this battle,” he said.

Ayanleke urged the media to learn more about mineral laws for a better reportage and maintain the problem in the news. He gave examples such as the lead poisoning to Zamfara who damaged thousands of children and a juvenile work in the Nasarawa lithium mines.

“The media act as a vital tool to educate the public on illegal extraction, its implications and the importance of adhering to legal mining practices,” he added, pushing stories that promote the legal, legal and the supervision of the community.

Previously, the Prime Minister Nuj FCT, Grace Ike opened the event, underlining the duty of the media as “gatekeeper of truth”. He defined illegal mining as a threat to life, the environment and security and said that journalists must investigate and educate without prejudices.

“As gatekeeper of truth and responsibility agents, our duty of journalists goes beyond the simple report. We must investigate, expose and educate the public on the devastating effects of illegal mining,” he said.

He promised that Nuj would continue to amplify the voices of the community and use digital tools to spread facts. “In conclusion, the role of the media in the fight against illegal mining in Nigeria cannot be overrated. We are not only chronicists of events but catalysts for change,” he concluded.

Basic journalists report that at the end of the seminar, the message was clear: nobody can win this fight alone. Security forces, miners and media must collaborate to protect Nigeria treasures for future generations. The seminar ended with the hopes of ongoing interviews and a real action against illegal mining.