37 Deaths in Government Custody: Nigeria cannot defeat illegal mining by weakening the rule of law
The fight against illegal mining is necessary. But the state must not create another illegality in the process.
How Weak Tenure Security Is Undermining Rural Economic Freedom in Nigeria
The Niger incident therefore raises an important question about the relationship between economic freedom and the rule of law. A state has a legitimate interest in regulating mining, protecting the environment and preventing criminal exploitation of natural resources. But effective regulation also requires institutions that give citizens accessible and lawful pathways to own, use and invest in productive assets.