The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has announced that ongoing plans to boost the operational capacity of the Mining Marshals will deliver a decisive blow to illegal mining across Nigeria.
Alake made the disclosure 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 national economic growth.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, in Abuja.
According to the statement, the Mining Marshals which is 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 mining sites currently threatened by illegal activities.
The statement reveals, plans to strengthen the logistical capacity of the Marshals with additional vehicles, equipment, and weapons to enhance their operations across all 774 local government areas.
“Scaling up their logistics and firepower will further expand the operations of the Mining Marshals, improve miners’ security, and ensure full enforcement of the law in every corner of the country,” he states.
It also commends the Nigerian Army, Police, and other security agencies for their collaboration, which has contributed to the success of the Mining Marshals.
It states that the Ministry’s total revenue had risen from ₦6 billion in 2022 to ₦12 billion in 2024, and currently stands at ₦26 billion as of October 2025.
“The growth, resulted from stricter enforcement of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act and the implementation of his Seven-Point Agenda, which has “sanitised the sector and blocked financial leakages.”
According to Alake over 3,700 mining titles had been revoked for failure to pay annual service fees or for non-performance, in line with the “use it or lose it” principle.
It cautions mining companies to strictly adhere to their Community Development Agreements (CDAs) and environmental responsibilities.
The statement also notes that the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company has opened new opportunities for local and foreign investors through joint ventures, enhancing the sector’s global competitiveness.
According to the statement, the Director of Information, Communications, and Technology of the College, Air Commodore Olushola Oluokun, commends Alake for the enlightening lecture, describing it as a valuable insight into Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
PR.
