Nigeria Cracks Down on Illegal Lithium Mining
2024-06-07
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1Since April, Nigeria's government has been arresting illegal miners for reportedly stealing lithium.
2Lithium is a metal that is used to make batteries for electric vehicles and many electronic devices.
3Nigeria is making an effort to regulate its mining operations.
4The country also aims to deal with illegal activity and to profit from its mineral resources.
5Demand for lithium, tin, and other minerals has increased.
6Illegal mines are common in the West African country's growing mining industry.
7Corruption among government officials is common.
8And the mineral deposits are found in areas with little government presence.
9Officials say profits from illegal mining have helped armed militia groups in the northern part of the country.
10The most recent arrests took place in mid-May.
11A joint team of soldiers and police officers carried out a raid on a market in Kishi, in southwestern Oyo State.
12Local people said the market had become a center for illegal trade in lithium mined in remote areas.
13The three-day operation resulted in the arrest of 32 individuals.
14The state government said they included two Chinese nationals, local workers, and mineral traders. Lithium was also seized.
15Jimoh Bioku is from Kishi.
16He said there had been secretive searches for the mineral in remote places in the past year by Chinese nationals.
17He said the Chinese paid people to dig for the mineral and turned the market into a mid-way point.
18He added, the community was "worried about the insecurity that usually follows illegal mining."
19He said that is why they reported it to the state government.
20China is the major producer of electric vehicles, or EVs, and supplies parts to other countries.
21China-owned companies employ mostly people leaving conflict and poor conditions in Nigeria's far north.
22They work in mining operations throughout the country.
23China's nationals and companies are often criticized for damaging the environment, exploitative labor conditions and questionable or illegal mining.
24There have been at least three cases of illegal mining arrests involving Chinese nationals in recent months.
25President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly blamed illegal mining for the worsening conflict in the country's north.
26He has asked the international community for help.
27The Chinese embassy in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, did not answer a request for comment from The Associated Press on the arrests and claims of illegal operations.
28However, the embassy released a statement last year following a report by The Times of London.
29The report said Chinese miners were reportedly paying militants to let their operations continue.
30The embassy said it has always urged the Chinese companies and nationals in Nigeria to follow Nigerian laws and rules.
31Nigeria is becoming a new source of lithium in Africa.
32The world's largest producers, like Australia and Chile, are unable to meet the growing demand.
33Emeka Okoro is with SBM Intelligence, a company based in the city of Lagos.
34Okoro said illegal activities are denying the government income.
35The company has researched illegal mining and terrorism financing in northern Nigeria.
36A Nigerian industry group says the government loses $9 billion from the stealing of the resource each year.
37The government set up a group of 2,200 law enforcement officials earlier this year to fight the losses.
38Before the raid in Kishi, the law enforcement group seized two trucks filled with lithium outside of Abuja in April.
39Later that month, the group raided an area in Karu, in Nasarawa State, near Abuja.
40That led to the arrest of four Chinese nationals and the seizure of tons of lithium.
41Segun Tomori is a spokesperson for the solid minerals ministry.
42He said those cases are now in court.
43On April 22, a federal court in the north-central area of Ilorin found two Chinese nationals guilty for illegal mining.
44The court sentenced them to a one-year jail term or a fine.
45I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Since April, Nigeria's government has been arresting illegal miners for reportedly stealing lithium. 2Lithium is a metal that is used to make batteries for electric vehicles and many electronic devices. 3Nigeria is making an effort to regulate its mining operations. The country also aims to deal with illegal activity and to profit from its mineral resources. Demand for lithium, tin, and other minerals has increased. 4Illegal mines are common in the West African country's growing mining industry. Corruption among government officials is common. And the mineral deposits are found in areas with little government presence. 5Officials say profits from illegal mining have helped armed militia groups in the northern part of the country. 6The most recent arrests took place in mid-May. A joint team of soldiers and police officers carried out a raid on a market in Kishi, in southwestern Oyo State. Local people said the market had become a center for illegal trade in lithium mined in remote areas. 7The three-day operation resulted in the arrest of 32 individuals. The state government said they included two Chinese nationals, local workers, and mineral traders. Lithium was also seized. 8Jimoh Bioku is from Kishi. He said there had been secretive searches for the mineral in remote places in the past year by Chinese nationals. He said the Chinese paid people to dig for the mineral and turned the market into a mid-way point. 9He added, the community was "worried about the insecurity that usually follows illegal mining." He said that is why they reported it to the state government. 10China and mining in Nigeria 11China is the major producer of electric vehicles, or EVs, and supplies parts to other countries. China-owned companies employ mostly people leaving conflict and poor conditions in Nigeria's far north. They work in mining operations throughout the country. 12China's nationals and companies are often criticized for damaging the environment, exploitative labor conditions and questionable or illegal mining. There have been at least three cases of illegal mining arrests involving Chinese nationals in recent months. 13President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly blamed illegal mining for the worsening conflict in the country's north. He has asked the international community for help. 14The Chinese embassy in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, did not answer a request for comment from The Associated Press on the arrests and claims of illegal operations. 15However, the embassy released a statement last year following a report by The Times of London. The report said Chinese miners were reportedly paying militants to let their operations continue. The embassy said it has always urged the Chinese companies and nationals in Nigeria to follow Nigerian laws and rules. 16Nigeria is becoming a new source of lithium in Africa. The world's largest producers, like Australia and Chile, are unable to meet the growing demand. 17Emeka Okoro is with SBM Intelligence, a company based in the city of Lagos. Okoro said illegal activities are denying the government income. The company has researched illegal mining and terrorism financing in northern Nigeria. 18A Nigerian industry group says the government loses $9 billion from the stealing of the resource each year. The government set up a group of 2,200 law enforcement officials earlier this year to fight the losses. 19Before the raid in Kishi, the law enforcement group seized two trucks filled with lithium outside of Abuja in April. Later that month, the group raided an area in Karu, in Nasarawa State, near Abuja. That led to the arrest of four Chinese nationals and the seizure of tons of lithium. 20Segun Tomori is a spokesperson for the solid minerals ministry. He said those cases are now in court. 21On April 22, a federal court in the north-central area of Ilorin found two Chinese nationals guilty for illegal mining. The court sentenced them to a one-year jail term or a fine. 22I'm Gregory Stachel. 23Taiwo Adebayo reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 24____________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26battery - n. a device that stores electricity providing direct current 27regulate - v. to make rules or laws to control an industry of field of activity 28deposit - n. a supply of a mineral in the ground 29remote - adj. far away from other people, houses or cities 30vulnerable - adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally 31exploitative - v. to have the food or liquid that is in your stomach come out through your mouth because you are sick