Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has announced a temporary suspension of new mining licences across the state, stressing that the directive is not a total ban on mining but a regulatory pause aimed at sanitising the sector.
Governor Sule, who spoke during the State Executive Council meeting in Lafia on Monday, said the decision became necessary to identify genuine operators, eliminate illegal activities, and curb the rising insecurity linked to unlicensed mining.
He lamented that illegal miners have been complicit in aiding criminal networks, including bandits and kidnappers, depriving the state of revenue while worsening security conditions.
The Governor assured that the suspension will not adversely affect government earnings but will instead strengthen oversight and restore order to the sector.
Governor Sule also briefed the council on new coordinated security operations, especially in Nasarawa Local Government, aimed at enhancing safety across the state.
He disclosed that Northern governors have approved a ₦19 billion monthly regional security fund, dedicated to acquiring security technology and arming local vigilantes.
The fund will be managed by Chief Ezekiel Gomos, newly appointed Director-General of the Northern Governors’ Forum.
Each of the 19 Northern states will contribute ₦1 billion monthly for one year, in addition to ₦100 million each for the construction of a new Secretariat in Kaduna, part of broader efforts to strengthen security coordination and governance in the region.
