The Nigerian House of Representatives is taking decisive action to curb illegal mining operations, associated security threats, and money laundering within the nation’s extractive industry. Leaders warn that the unregulated extraction of minerals is depriving the country of vital income and destabilizing national security.
Rep. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem, who chairs the House committee overseeing this initiative, spoke at a stakeholder summit in Abuja. He highlighted that despite Nigeria possessing abundant reserves of gold, lithium, and other minerals, the sector fails to drive economic growth due to lax oversight and illicit financial activities. The committee aims to map out the scale of these illegal operations and propose legislative changes to improve governance.
Abdulraheem emphasized that this challenge cannot be solved by one entity alone. He called for unified efforts from security agencies, the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, and financial regulators. Furthermore, he assured legitimate mining operators that the investigation seeks to support lawful commerce rather than hinder it.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas underscored the importance of this task, noting that the country cannot achieve fiscal stability while its mineral sector suffers from systemic illegality. During the workshop, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps reported the arrest of over 671 suspects since 2024. Commandant General Ahmed Abubakar Audi advocated for the creation of specialized courts to expedite the prosecution of these offenders.
Representatives from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum expressed their support for the reforms, pledging cooperation between state and federal authorities to unlock the full potential of the sector.
