Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has raised the alarm over the growing abandonment of junior secondary schools by male children in the state, who are opting for artisanal mining which they consider more lucrative than education.
Speaking on Channels Television’s _Sunday Politics_ programme, Bago described artisanal mining as a menace, lamenting that many young boys have been lured away from classrooms after “tasting its money.” He said the trend poses a serious threat to the future of education and human capital development in the state.
The governor’s disclosure comes days after more than 30 miners reportedly died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, an incident that has sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of mining activities in the area.
Bago noted that while mining holds economic potential, the unregulated and artisanal nature of the practice is exposing children to exploitation, health hazards, and criminal influences. He stressed the need for urgent reforms to sanitise the sector and protect vulnerable groups.
He called for stronger collaboration between the state government, federal authorities, and security agencies to regulate mining operations, enforce child protection laws, and create incentives that will keep children in school rather than on mining sites.
