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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to combat illegal mining and strengthen governance in the solid minerals sector through a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Solid Minerals Development minister, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed this in Abuja when he received the Director-General of NIMC, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote and her management team on a visit.
Alake described NIMC as a critical institution in Nigeria’s development architecture, stressing that credible identity management has become indispensable for effective governance, national security and economic planning.
According to him, the ongoing reforms in the mining sector require stronger collaboration with agencies like NIMC to improve transparency, accountability and regulatory oversight.
He said a reliable digital identity system would help the government trace and monitor operators across the mining value chain, particularly in tackling illegal mining activities.
“Without identification, we cannot trace; we cannot track and insecurity will flourish. In the solid minerals sector, we need effective tracking of both legal and illegal operations. A credible identity ecosystem will strengthen regulation, improve enforcement and support our efforts to sanitise the sector,” Alake said.
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The minister identified technology, data collection, statistics and digital identity as essential tools for evidence-based policymaking, efficient licensing, investment promotion and sustainable development.
Earlier, Coker-Odusote said the recently enacted NIMC Act 2026 had positioned Nigeria to fully embrace a digital governance ecosystem.
She said integrating identity management into the solid minerals sector would improve database integration across government agencies, strengthen regulatory compliance, enhance security, improve monitoring of mining operators and support the implementation of Community Development Agreements (CDAs) in host communities.
She added that the Commission’s digital identity infrastructure would enable government institutions to build more reliable databases, improve public service delivery and promote greater transparency in governance.
Both parties pledged to deepen collaboration through technology-driven initiatives aimed at strengthening reforms in the mining sector, improving security and advancing sustainable development.
The meeting also highlighted the significance of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, which provides a stronger legal framework for secure identity verification, inter-agency data integration, improved public service delivery and a modern digital economy.
The legislation is expected to accelerate technology-driven governance by providing every eligible Nigerian and legal resident with a trusted digital identity.
