Opinion

Plateau governor-elect’s plan on solid minerals sector

Published

3 years ago

April 25, 2023

vicky

IN continuation of his engagement with key stakeholders, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, Plateau State governor-elect, undertook another visit on April 6, 2023. These are aimed at laying the foundation for the smooth take-off of his administration and providing a realistic template for the seamless conduct of government business towards the realisationof his manifesto without delay. He was at the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel headquarters in Abuja where he had a very fruitful interface with the minister, Olamilekan Adegbite. Certainly, he has shown that he is not an armchair governor-in-waiting. He has portrayed himself as a highly motivated leader who has already began pursuing the agenda on which strength the masses unanimously gave him that remarkableendorsementof March 18, 2023. But first, let us look at the past to properly situate and contextualise the present gains of that engagement with the minister and the potentials it holds for the future of the state and her people. In the process, we may catch a glimpse of, and appreciate, Barrister Mutfwang’s capacity for both hindsight and foresight – outstanding qualities in a worthy leader.

In an article published in The Economic Geography Journal (Vol. 35, No.2, April 1959), B.W. Hodder stated that in the latter part of the nineteenth century, European travellers noticed what was known as ‘straw tin’ being used by the Hausa for tinning their brass and assumed that it was brought from up north, from across the Sahara Desert. But in 1884, according to the researcher, it was discovered that the tin had in fact come from the Jos Plateau, known at the time as Bauchi Plateau. Much later, in March 1990, The Geographical Journal, Vol. 156, No.1, carried a paper written by Michael J. Alexander who traced the discovery of tin on the Jos Plateau to 1700-1750 when it was found near river channels. He explained: “The farmers saw tin minerals and crystals near the river. They realized by mixing tin and iron, they could have stronger agricultural instruments.” He noted that, by 1760-1770, there were 13 indigenous blacksmith smelters in Naraguta, north of Jos, and that tin hadbecome very popular during the industrial revolution in Europe. Merchants travelled from Tripoli to the Jos Plateau to buy tin, which explains Hodder’s earlier suggestion that this same tin had been found in Tripoli. But it was thought to have originated from what later came to be known as Northern Nigeria. Alexander sheds more light on this: “The Berom ethnic group were finding and producing tin along the Dilimi River for the ethnic Hausa traders…. The Hausa traders did not want people to know the original source of tin so that is why they put the buying centre in Bauchi.”In 1808, a Briton named Clapperton travelled for three months across the Sahara to find the Naraguta smelters.

By the year 1913, 108 mining companies had to go through the Royal Niger Company to gain access to the mine fields. “A railway was discovered from Zaria to Lagos for the export of tin. By 1943, tin mining on the Jos Plateau was at its peak….Up to 1960, Jos was the sixth largest producer of tin in the world. Two hundred twenty-five kilometres of land was taken out by tin mining,” Alexander stated. We have taken this brief excursion down memory lane to, first, illustrate the incredibly rich pedigree of Jos, and indeed Plateau State as a whole, in tin and solid minerals mining generally. Second, to showcase the fact that there was once a time in the history of this country, nay, even going back to the colonial era, when this tiny slice of the earth, which later came to be known as Plateau State, was one of the biggest geese laying the golden eggs of this nation. For which it was well-acclaimed and acknowledged worldwide. And, most significantly, when you put the above historical facts side-by-side the governor-elect’s visit to the Minister of Mines and Steel, it shows him as a man who is in perfect cinque with the realities of that past epoch. A manvery set to leverage on what is still left of that once huge enterprise and the other solid minerals that abound today in the other parts of the state to lift its economy out of the doldrums.

Of course, tin mining is no more as lucrative as it used to be. Alexander attributed this to the use of plastics and other non-corrosive materials in place of tin cans. Also, because informal artisanal mining has become the order of the day, what comes out of the Plateau is often smuggled out and used to strengthen tin in Brazil, Malaysia and Bolivia because Jos tin is reputed to be much stronger.

He added that because all exploitable minerals belong to government, companies must obtain tin mining leases to access them. But because ordinary miners cannot afford the huge costs, most of them resort to doing the business illegally. And the products end up in the hands of smugglers who make humongous profits at the expense of the desperate miners. Unfortunately, this is what obtains across board – in all aspects of solid minerals extraction in Plateau State. Herein lies the challenge for the in-coming governor, the minister and key stakeholders. Illegal mining in Plateau State is a multi-million-dollar business. It is so pervasive and largely out of the control of any major state players that it is denying governments, the itinerant miners themselves and the environmentally devastated communities their own rightful share of the proceeds. This brings to the fore the necessity to strictly use ecological funds for which purposes they are statutorily meant. Parts of Kanam and Wase local government areas are said to be heavily endowed with mineral resources that have for decades been strictly controlled by powerful individuals and cartels that have become laws unto themselves. These must be stopped if the state and its citizens must reap the benefits of their God-given resources. When properly controlled and managed, the devastation of land caused by the open cast tin mining of the past will be avoided in any such future endeavours. Also viewed from these perspectives, the imperative of the governor-elect’s visit to the ministerbecomes even clearer. Experts in the solid minerals sector say that, in tandem with Mr. Mutfwang’s manifesto in this area, there remains a lot to be done. But they agree that these first steps are in the right direction and a positive sign that agreat deal will be achieved in this departmentimmediately he takes over. They suggest a robust utilization of the abundant expertise in some of the parastatals of the Ministry such as the Council of Nigerian Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) and the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), among others, to push through the agenda. All over the state, solid minerals abound – some of which have not yet been discovered. In fact, there has been talk about the presence of crude oil in those parts of southern Plateau which lie in the Benue trough. Doubtless, the governor-elect has started oiling the wheels of critical machinery towards the smooth implementation of government policies. And if the minister’s assurances are anything to go by and Mutfwang’s determination is as solid as it appears, the state is on the cusps of a new dispensation, reminiscent of the golden days of tin mining, in the solid minerals department.

Related Topics:Caleb Mutfwang Plateau gov-elect’s plan on solid minerals sector

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News

2027: Kanam Youths Back Tinubu, Mutfwang, Demand Senate Slot

Published

6 days ago

April 15, 2026

Preport

Youths under the umbrella of the Coalition of Kanam Ethnic Youths Nationalities have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for a second term in 2027, while also calling for the Plateau Central senatorial seat to be zoned to Kanam Local Government Area.

The endorsement was announced during a gathering held at the Multi-purpose Conference Centre in Dengi, headquarters of Kanam LGA, where youth leaders and stakeholders converged to deliberate on the political future of the area.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Mr. Sadiq Kwaltommai and Mr. Mustapha Bayuma said the decision followed extensive consultations across the 20 wards of Kanam, culminating in a unanimous agreement to support both leaders for re-election.

The group said its endorsement of President Tinubu was based on what it described as visible progress under his Renewed Hope Agenda, including efforts to stabilize the economy, address insecurity, and execute major infrastructure projects across the country.

“We commend the President’s bold decisions and commitment to long-term development, particularly projects that will have lasting impact on Northern Nigeria,” the coalition stated.

On Governor Mutfwang, the youths described their endorsement as “earned, not given,” citing several developmental projects executed in Kanam LGA. These include ongoing road rehabilitation projects such as the Amper–Dengi and Gishare–Gwamlar–Gidgid roads, upgrades to healthcare facilities including General Hospital Dengi, improvements in school infrastructure, and agricultural support programs for farmers.

They added that regular payment of salaries and support for traditional institutions have also contributed to improving livelihoods in the area.

The coalition, however, used the occasion to press for what it termed “equity and fairness” in political representation, insisting that Kanam LGA should produce the next senator for Plateau Central in 2027.

According to the group, Kanam remains the only local government in the senatorial district yet to occupy the position since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, despite having one of the highest voter populations in the zone.

“We therefore endorse Ephraim Usman for the Plateau Central senatorial seat. Justice demands that Kanam be given the opportunity to represent the zone at the Senate,” the statement read.

They noted that the LGA has consistently supported candidates from other parts of the district in previous elections and now expects reciprocal support in the spirit of rotational equity.

Also speaking, the Leader of the Kanam Legislative Arm, Duba-Allahyafi Samson, reinforced the call for fairness, pointing out that some areas have repeatedly occupied key political offices while others remain excluded.

He urged political stakeholders to consider balancing representation across the district to sustain unity and inclusiveness.

The event concluded with the coalition congratulating Nentawe Yiltwada on his emergence as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, describing it as a significant milestone for Plateau State and a positive development for Nigeria’s democratic process.

News

Lagos, Kwara, Jigawa, 30 other states will experience flooding this year: Minister

Published

6 days ago

April 15, 2026

Preport

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has said about 33 states and the FCT will experience flooding in 2026, with 14,118 communities identified as high-risk nationwide.

Mr Utsev disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday at the public presentation of the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

He said the high-risk communities were located in 266 Local Government Areas (LGAs) based on scientific forecasts and hydrological assessments.

The affected states according to him are Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna and Kano.

Others include Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara, including the FCT.

The minister said that 15,597 communities in 405 LGAs across 35 states would face moderate flood risk, while Ekiti State remained the only state not affected.

He added that 923 communities in 77 LGAs across 24 states fell within the low flood risk category.

”States in this category include Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara,” he said.

He warned of possible flash and urban flooding in major cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Kano.

He said coastal and riverine flooding is expected in Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo states due to rising sea levels and tidal surges.

He stated, “The AFO is not just a scientific report; it is a call to action. Early warning saves lives and reduces economic losses.”

Mr Utsev attributed increasing flood incidents to climate variability, rapid urbanisation, inadequate drainage infrastructure and poor land-use practices.

He noted that the Federal Government was strengthening hydrological monitoring through improved data systems, automated river gauges and advanced modelling techniques.

He added that collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were being enhanced to improve forecast accuracy and early warning dissemination.

The minister urged state governments to integrate flood risk considerations into land-use planning, urban development and infrastructure design.

He also called for improved drainage systems, effective floodplain management and stronger community preparedness to minimise impacts.

Earlier, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said flooding remained a major national challenge, with recurring incidents recorded since 2012.

Mr Tinubu said his administration had initiated policies and programmes, including flood control projects, to address the persistent threat.

He said that the 2024 Maiduguri flood marked a turning point toward proactive flood and disaster management.

According to him, the Anticipatory Action initiative, led by the Office of the Vice-President, is strengthening early warning, preparedness and coordinated response.

Mr Tinubu described the AFO as a key planning document guiding early action, mitigation and evacuation strategies nationwide.

He urged stakeholders to utilise the forecasts to protect lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

The president also emphasised the need to harness water resources to drive economic diversification and sustainable development.

Also speaking, the Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, said the forecast was based on comprehensive, data-driven analysis of flood-prone areas.

Mr Mohammed said the AFO served as an early warning tool to support planning and coordinated disaster response nationwide.

He added that the agency had upgraded its forecasting system to a hybrid AI-integrated model to improve accuracy and lead time.

He also said that the Flood Dashboard now enabled real-time monitoring and dissemination of alerts to stakeholders.

He urged residents in vulnerable areas to heed early warnings and adopt preventive measures to reduce risks.

The NIHSA director general called for wider dissemination of the outlook to strengthen preparedness and resilience in communities.

He appreciated the Federal Government and development partners for their support in the preparation of the 2026 outlook.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the World Meteorological Organisation, NiMet, NEMA, the Minister of Livestock Development, Dr Idi Maiha, and other stakeholders.

(NAN)