Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang
By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
The Plateau State Government has begun implementing mining reforms aimed at formalizing artisanal miners while enforcing the suspension of illegal mining activities.
This follows the signing of Executive Order 001, 2025, by Governor Caleb Mutfwang on February 21, which halted all mining operations due to security concerns and environmental degradation.
Speaking at a press conference in Jos on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment, Climate Change, and Mineral Development, Peter Gwom, said the suspension was necessary to restore order in the mining sector.
“Over the decades, illegal mining has led to severe land degradation, environmental pollution, increased child labor, illicit drug trade, the proliferation of arms, banditry, kidnappings, and other dangerous trends,” he said.
“It is particularly disheartening that many young people in our state are abandoning their education to engage in artisanal mining, thereby exposing themselves to exploitation, drug abuse, prostitution, and life-threatening health hazards.”
Gwom noted that mining has been central to Plateau’s economy since 1902, with large-scale operations driving industrialization and job creation. However, the collapse of mechanized mining following the Indigenization Decree of the 1970s led to a surge in unregulated mining activities, resulting in extensive environmental and security challenges.
To address these concerns, the state government has set up a Technical Committee on Mining Reform, chaired by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Dafi. The committee includes representatives from state ministries, federal mining regulatory agencies, the Miners Association, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and security agencies.
Gwom outlined the committee’s key responsibilities, which include verifying mining title holders and cooperatives, sensitizing host communities about the dangers of illegal mining, encouraging artisanal miners to form cooperatives for formal recognition, documenting mining sites and minerals being extracted, and assessing environmental damage caused by illegal mining.
“Our goal is to create a system where mining benefits the federal government, the state, and host communities,” Gwom said. “It is crucial that local communities are not exploited but rather empowered through a legal and sustainable framework.”
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Joyce Ramnap, urged traditional institutions, youth groups, religious and community leaders, and licensed miners to support the temporary suspension, emphasizing that it was necessary to restore order in the sector.
She acknowledged the economic impact of the ban but assured that the government was committed to long-term benefits for workers and companies.
“We assure you that government is aware of the temporary hardship this may cause both workforce and companies but remains committed to safeguarding your future by ensuring that mining is conducted in a safe, regulated, and beneficial manner,” she said.
Ramnap also called on Civil Society Organizations and the media to intensify sensitization efforts on the dangers of illegal mining, particularly its role in causing land movements, loss of lives, infrastructure destruction, and environmental degradation.
“We assure you that this committee remains open to constructive suggestions and will continue engaging stakeholders physically and through the media to ensure that mining on the Plateau is conducted in a manner that is safe, regulated, and beneficial to all,” she added.
The government called on traditional institutions, local government officials, and licensed miners to support the reforms, urging artisanal miners to cooperate with the transition process for a more sustainable mining sector.
