The Federal Government has intensified efforts to combat illegal mining across the country, with over 327 individuals arrested in a nationwide enforcement operation, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has disclosed.
Alake said foreign nationals arrested over alleged involvement in illegal mining and suspected security-related offences had been transferred to the Office of the National Security Adviser for further investigation.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television in Abuja on Friday, the minister said the government had stepped up enforcement in the solid minerals sector amid growing concerns over illegal extraction activities and their possible security implications.
According to him, the suspects are being investigated at a higher level due to allegations surrounding their operations.
“Foreign nationals arrested for illegal mining activities and suspected links to terrorism have been handed over to the Office of the National Security Adviser for further investigation,” Alake said.
The minister stated that the ongoing crackdown had led to hundreds of arrests nationwide as authorities seek to sanitise the sector.
“More than 327 individuals, including foreign nationals, have been arrested for illegal mining across the country,” he said.
Alake added that legal actions had commenced against several suspects, while thousands of mining licences had been withdrawn as part of regulatory reforms.
“About 142 suspects are currently facing prosecution, while approximately 3,000 mining licences have been revoked,” he said.
He attributed the measures to reforms introduced under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that the changes had boosted government earnings from the mining sector.
“The reforms in the solid minerals sector have significantly improved government revenue,” Alake stated, adding that revenue increased from about ₦6 billion in 2023 to over ₦70 billion by December 2025.
The minister also called for improved ethical practices within the industry, urging stakeholders to support efforts aimed at ensuring transparency and sustainability in Nigeria’s mining sector.
Illegal mining and mineral theft have repeatedly been identified by the Federal Government as threats to economic growth and national security, particularly in mineral-rich regions of the country.
