Mining in Zamfara State: A Survival Strategy of the Poor

Despite the huge interest it attracts globally, particularly after the 2010 lead poisoning incident, mining in Zamfara State, like much of Nigeria, remains essentially artisanal. I recall that when I applied for my PhD, my intention was to problematise the mining crisis in the state by examining the link between disaster, whether natural or man-made, and capitalist accumulation in Nigeria, using the 2010 lead poisoning as a focal point.

I had planned to employ Naomi Klein’s theory of disaster capitalism, as articulated in The Shock Doctrine, alongside Marxian political economy. Klein argues that neoliberal reforms associated with the Chicago School often emerge in moments of social disorientation, when populations are subjected to what she calls “shock therapy”. Natural or artificial disasters, in this context, become opportunities for imposing these reforms. Marxian class analysis offers another useful lens. It highlights the relationship between dominant and subordinate classes in the production process and would have helped situate the dynamics between mining labourers, private petty capitalists whose resources are limited, and commercial capitalists who ultimately buy the extracted minerals. My supervisors, however, had different ideas, and guided me toward a different analytical path.

Artisanal mining in Zamfara State is, in reality, a survival strategy for the peasantry. Their seasonal farming, once sufficient under the old moral economy, can no longer sustain them. The advance of the market economy has been harsh, and diversification is now a necessity rather than a choice.

The informality that characterises artisanal mining brings serious environmental risks. Weak regulation and fragile environmental governance have left the ecological system exposed. Deforestation, water contamination, soil pollution, and widespread land degradation are now common features of many mining communities.

Mining has also reshaped the social and economic landscape. It has pulled young people away from school and farms, generated competition over land, and attracted external actors whose interests are purely commercial. Many mining locations are equally affected by insecurity, which further complicates any attempt by state or federal authorities to enforce regulations or monitor activities on the ground.

The path forward requires a coordinated and realistic strategy. Federal institutions, state authorities, traditional leaders, miners’ associations, and community stakeholders must work together. Priorities should include formalisation of mining activities, proper environmental monitoring, safer processing methods, access to training, and interventions that address the socio-economic factors driving people into informal mining in the first place.

Zamfara State is, indeed, at a crossroads. Mining can remain a viable source of livelihood for thousands of people, but only if its environmental and social implications are managed with foresight and responsibility. Achieving this balance is essential for the future of the state, the resilience of its communities, and the protection of its fragile ecological systems.