Nigeria renews war on illegal mining, expands anti-theft task force to gold, other minerals

In a significant move to protect the nation’s economy, the National Economic Council (NEC) has announced a major crackdown on illegal gold mining and mineral smuggling.

The initiative is designed to stem massive revenue losses and secure Nigeria’s natural resources.

The decision involves expanding the powers of an existing government committee.

The Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, will now also tackle the illicit trade in solid minerals.

Following the 153rd NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Uzodinma explained that the move underscores the government’s resolve to “close off revenue leakages.”

He stated, “NEC received our report with satisfaction and expanded our Terms of Reference to now also take interest in solid minerals, because our solid minerals are being mined and stolen and not adding to national revenue.”

The committee will collaborate with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and security agencies to combat gold smuggling, unregulated quarrying, and illegal mineral exports.

The crackdown targets a shadow economy costing Nigeria billions. According to NEITI, the country loses over $9 billion annually to illegal mining and smuggling, particularly of gold and lithium. Over 80% of mining activity is unregulated, often controlled by criminal syndicates and armed groups who use the proceeds to fund banditry.

This expanded mandate mirrors the committee’s original purpose, established in 2022 to combat crude oil theft, which had crippled production and devastated government revenue.

The committee is expected to apply similar security and oversight strategies used in the oil sector to protect mineral resources.

Governor Uzodinma is expected to present the first progress report on this new initiative at the next NEC meeting in November.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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