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90 sites reclaimed, 300 suspects prosecuted, as revenue hits ₦26bn
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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has declared that ongoing plans to boost the capacity of the Mining Marshals will deal a decisive blow to illegal mining across the country.
Alake gave the assurance while addressing participants of Course 34 of the Nigerian Defence College (NDC), Abuja, during their assessment of the solid minerals value chain and its impact on Nigeria’s economic growth.
In a statement released by Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, he said the Mining Marshals, the enforcement arm of the Ministry, have so far lived up to expectations by reclaiming 90 mining sites from bandits and illegal miners, prosecuting over 300 suspects, and monitoring 450 sites currently threatened by illegal activities.
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Government plans to strengthen the logistical capacity of the Marshals with more vehicles, equipment and weapons to enable them to operate effectively across all 774 local government areas.
According to him, “Scaling up their logistics and firepower will further expand the operations of the Mining Marshals, improve the security of miners and ensure full enforcement of the law in every corner of the country.”
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Responding to concerns about possible rivalry with other security agencies, Alake appreciated the Nigerian Army, the Police, and other security outfits for the cordial working relationship that has allowed the Mining Marshals to excel.
Represented by his Special Adviser, Kehinde Bamigbetan, the Minister took the Defence College participants through the solid minerals value chain — from licensing, exploration, and community engagement to extraction, processing and sales.
Dr. Alake revealed that the Ministry’s total revenue had risen sharply from ₦6 billion in 2022, to ₦12 billion in 2024, and currently stands at ₦26 billion as of October 2025.
He attributed the impressive growth to the enforcement of compliance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, as well as the implementation of his Seven-Point Agenda, which he described as “a roadmap that has sanitised the sector and blocked financial leakages.”
The Minister disclosed that over 3,700 mining titles had been revoked for failure to pay annual service fees or for non-performance in line with the “use it or lose it” principle. He also warned mining companies to adhere strictly to their Community Development Agreements (CDA) and environmental responsibilities.
On investment opportunities, Alake noted that the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company had opened a new window for local and foreign investors ready for joint ventures, stressing that the initiative would further enhance the sector’s global competitiveness.
Thanking the Minister on behalf of the NDC participants, the Director of Information, Communications and Technology, Air Commodore Olushola Oluokun, lauded Alake for the enlightening lecture, which he said provided valuable insights into Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
