US Slams Chinese Nationals for Illegal Exploitation of Nigeria’s Solid Minerals
United States authorities on Tuesday criticized two Chinese nationals arraigned for alleged smuggling and exploitation of Nigeria’s solid minerals, warning that such activities could disrupt the global supply chain and have far-reaching consequences for the US.
The US Mission in Nigeria issued a statement condemning the actions of Zhang Hong Lin and Zhao Pei Hai, who were recently arraigned at the Ikoyi Division of the Federal High Court for their alleged involvement in illegal mining operations.
The statement comes days after Nigeria’s anti-graft commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), released mugshots of the two suspects, who are accused of smuggling “mica products, copper-bearing and lithium-bearing mineral resources.”
The US embassy in Nigeria did not mince words in its criticism, stating that illicit mining and smuggling of Nigeria’s natural resources pose a serious threat to the country’s sovereignty and could hamper exports to other countries, including the US.
“Illicit mining threatens Nigeria’s economic future and fuels transnational corruption. Accountability in the extractives sector is essential to protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and ensuring a secure and transparent global supply chain, which is core to US strategic interests,” the statement read.
The US authorities’ public condemnation of the Chinese nationals is likely to further strain relations between Washington and Beijing, which have been frosty in recent times.
China is one of Nigeria’s biggest lenders, and citizens of the Asian nation have been at the center of illegal mining allegations in Nigeria for years.
The incident has raised concerns about the impact of illicit mining on Nigeria’s economy and the global supply chain.
The US authorities’ warning that such activities could disrupt the global supply chain and have far-reaching consequences for the US is a clear indication of the gravity of the situation.
