How DSP Barau’s Explosives Bill SB.70 Targets Illegal Mining Amid Gold Seizure at MAKIA
By Abba Anwar
While social media is abuzz with all sorts of opinions after the seizure of gold worth Four Billion Naira (N4B) and heavyweight foreign currencies, at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), the Explosives Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (SB.70) sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin, PhD, CFR, in the 10th Senate, takes its proper course and relevance.
The seizured gold is allegedly linked to illegal mining taking place in some select communities in Northern Nigeria. Senator Jibrin’s Bill is designed to tame illegal mining, unlawful use of explosives, as the saying goes, “No explosives, no illegal mining. No illegal mining, no smuggled gold.”
Yes the arrest is a symptom of bigger problem. I mean the intercepted smuggled gold bars heading out of Nigeria. After thorough investigations by the relevant agencies, the process could point to the same pattern: gold dug illegally in Zamfara, Niger, and other North West states, moved through Kano and smuggled abroad.
Not minding whose ox is gored, when His Excellency, Deputy Senate President, suspected the unpatriotic channel of fueling insecurity, when he understood that, such illegally mined gold is “blood gold”, whereas bandits seize mines, use forced labor, blast rocks, then launder the gold through airports like MAKIA to fund more weapons, he singlehandedly, out of sheer patriotism and love for his people, sponsored the Bill. To tame the problem from the base.
Having studied the process, as a scholar and informed legislator with global outreach, he brought to the fore a Bill capable of challenging each and every aspect of high profile and organized crimes, such as banditry, terrorism, and host of others. Hence the sponsorship of this all-important Bill.
For example, as part of the provisions of this Bill SB.70, cutting the Oxygen of illegal miners, is paramount. The effort understands that illegal miners do not dig gold with shovels alone, they use dynamite, Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO), and detonators to access through the rock. Those explosives largely come from two sources: smuggling or corrupt diversion from legal quarries.
All such technicalities and clearer understanding of the this lingering unpatriotic engagement of some disgruntled elements, are spelt out in the Bill. The Bill also attacks the supply chain via digital tracking system. As every stick of explosive gets a batch number. Starting from factory to licensed miner and stops at blast site. “If dynamite is found at an illegal mine or with bandits, security can trace it back to who signed for it.”
It provides stricter licensing system. Where exists monthly stock reports and renewal rules for quarries/mining firms. When there are lost explosives, they can easily be traced from source and channels. Under this, excuse won’t fly anymore.
So I wonder in stronger terms when some people, either out of mischief or sheer ignorance, condemn DSP Jibrin for not doing anything concerning fight against insecurity in the North, especially and the country in general. His is going to the base, the stem and main source of the problem. His, is also work, work, work, action, action and action. Not noise making. The content of the Bill, says a lot in how he places knowledge first in whatever he does as a legislator and a patriotic servant of his people. Knowledge-based legislator.
Deputy Senate President’s Bill gives teeth to Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC), Police and Department of State Security (DSS) clear power to inspect storage facilities and raid sites. Whereas NSCDC already guards solid minerals, SB.70 gives them complete teeth to do that.
In connecting the dots in a more clearer term, the gold seizure at MAKIA is the end of the chain. While DSP’s Bill attacks the beginning of the chain. See the simple arithmetic, “… without explosives bandits can’t blast rock, no gold to smuggle, less money for guns and weaker banditry.”
In the security community they call explosives control “Upstream Security.” Arresting gold at airports is downstream. Meaning, DSP’s Bill is upstream.
One thing that is very clear is this, that when His Excellency Deputy Senate President, Jibrin, thought of sponsoring this Bill, he didn’t have anybody in mind, as his political rival, in whatever form. His mind was clear about his good intention. He was doing that to support Nigeria get rid of banditry, terrorism and other organized crimes. I strongly believe, it is Almighty Allah sending all the protection to his good, patriotic, responsible and responsive servant.
Facing this issue of gold seizure by the federal government squarely, without fear or favour, can be an added advantage for the ruling party to secure more votes from the North. As the issue becomes talk of the town across major Northern cities. While waiting for the security agencies and other relevant authorities to act, people are of the view, no stone should be left untouched.
Anwar writes from Kano
Tuesday, 16th June, 2026