Cross River illegal mining ban announced by Governor Bassey Otu to tackle environmental damage, security risks, and revenue losses

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State on Friday announced a decisive ban on illegal mining across the state, directing all unlicensed operators to immediately halt activities.

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The directive, issued in Calabar on 6 March 2026 during a strategic meeting with key stakeholders in the mining sector, excludes operators holding legitimate federal approvals.

The Cross River illegal mining ban is aimed at restoring order, strengthening transparency, and addressing growing security and environmental concerns linked to unregulated mining operations.

Governor Otu said the state could no longer tolerate a situation where a sector with vast economic potential becomes a source of instability and environmental damage.

“This sector is strategic to the economic future of our state. But instead of bringing prosperity to our communities, it is gradually becoming a source of serious concern,” the governor said.

“We believe wealth can still be created from mining, but it must be done ethically, legally and with full responsibility.”

Recent investigations had highlighted how illegal mining activities deprived the state government of significant revenue while causing extensive ecological destruction.

The report documented widespread deforestation, soil degradation, and severe environmental and health risks faced by workers and nearby communities.

Governor Otu also revealed that intelligence reports indicated an increasing influx of unregulated operators into mining communities, including foreign nationals whose identities and operations remain largely unknown to authorities.

“I have been receiving reports about the influx of strangers and aliens into our various communities.

The truth is that we do not even know how many of these operators there are. We must know those who are in our state and what exactly they are doing in our environment,” he said.

The governor expressed concern that some local leaders had inadvertently contributed to the crisis by facilitating unregulated activities.

According to him, certain clan heads and village heads had allowed mining operations without proper authorisation, further complicating the regulatory challenge.

Governor Otu explained that the state government had initially pursued dialogue and collaboration with federal authorities and security agencies responsible for supervising mining operations.

However, he noted that the response had been slow and insufficient to address the growing scale of the problem.

“I personally initiated discussions with federal authorities and security agencies to strengthen monitoring in the sector.

There were assurances that rangers would be deployed to assist us, but the process has taken far too long,” he said.

After months of monitoring and consultations, the governor said the state had reached a critical point that required firm action.

“We have given enough time of grace; there comes a point where the government must act decisively. That time has now come,” Otu declared.

Under the new directive, all illegal mining activities must cease immediately across Cross River State.

The governor instructed operators seeking to resume legitimate activities to first report to the state Ministry responsible for mining matters for proper profiling and regulatory clearance.

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The administration said the move is expected to protect communities, safeguard natural resources, and restore responsible mining practices in the state.