In the remote village of Pasali in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, miners crawl through narrow, unstable mud-walled tunnels, risking life and limb to extract lithium—the coveted mineral essential for powering the global shift to renewable energy. Yet, the story of these miners is one of survival against staggering odds, in an industry plagued by illegality and exploitation.
Abdullahi Sabiu, who started mining at 20, knows the dangers of his trade but sees no alternative. “I know that mining activities are dangerous, and there are disadvantages, but every profession has its own disadvantages, including driving, and death is unpredictable,” he said, reflecting on the precarious balance between risk and reward.
In Nasarawa State, the booming demand for lithium has turned mining into a last resort for impoverished families. Explosions from smuggled dynamite mark the opening of new mining grounds, sending tremors across villages, while miners endure harrowing conditions.
For Abdullahi and many others, the motive is clear: “The reason why I went into the mining business is so that I can take care of myself, my wives, and my children. We cannot wait for the government to help us.”
A Business Exploiting the Most Vulnerable
Children are not spared from the gruelling work in illegal mining pits. Local sellers like Aliyu Ibrahim, who owns unlicensed mines, openly admit that children as young as five work sorting and bagging lithium rocks. “Many of the children are orphans or from poor families, with no other means of survival,” he justified.
Among these children is six-year-old Juliet Samaniya, who once attended school but now chips away at rocks to support her family. Such scenes are common, as official statistics reveal children make up 51% of Nigeria’s poor, the majority in rural areas.
Nigeria’s Lithium Wealth Fuels an Illegal Trade
Once sorted, the lithium from Pasali embarks on a shadowy journey to the global electricals market, often ending up in the stockpiles of Chinese companies that dominate Nigeria’s poorly regulated mining sector. These companies, frequently accused of environmental damage and exploitative practices, benefit from an illegal trade that costs Nigeria billions annually.
The Nigerian government has acknowledged the link between illegal mining and the country’s rising insecurity. President Bola Tinubu recently blamed unregulated extractive activities for fueling insurgency in northern Nigeria.
Challenges in Regulating the Sector
Despite arrests and prosecutions involving Chinese nationals in illegal mining operations, the problem persists. The allure of quick profits and weak enforcement make regulation difficult, leaving communities to bear the brunt of economic and environmental devastation.
While Nigeria seeks to reduce its reliance on oil by focusing on solid minerals, much of its wealth is siphoned off through illicit means. In Pasali and similar villages, the promise of a better life remains elusive, buried beneath the rubble of an unregulated mining industry.
As the global demand for lithium grows, so does the urgency for Nigeria to strengthen oversight, enforce mining laws, and protect its most vulnerable citizens. For miners like Abdullahi and Juliet, the stakes couldn’t be higher.