The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) has expressed concern over the importation of 5 million metric tonnes of bitumen into the country, marking the highest volume on the importation chart as of April 2019.

Speaking with Vanguard, Kabir Kankara, National President of MAN, lamented the loss of foreign exchange resulting from the high importation figures, especially when Nigeria has vast deposits of bitumen. He noted that inadequate technology, insufficient funding, and lack of intervention have led to billions of dollars in losses.

Kankara emphasized the need for the government to take swift action to curb bitumen imports by supporting local miners and fostering domestic production. He urged the government to provide miners with access to modern equipment and necessary support to fully exploit the country’s mineral resources.

In a related development, the Small Scale Artisanal Miners Association of Nigeria (SAMAN) has vowed to address the illegal export of solid minerals. Nasiru Wada, National Chairman of SAMAN, highlighted the longstanding issues in the mining sector and the neglect faced by small-scale miners. Wada called for collaboration with the government and international partners to promote socio-economic development and curb mineral flight, which has been detrimental to the country’s economy.