The House of Representatives has intensified calls for illegal mining reforms, warning that unlawful mineral exploitation, weak regulation and illicit financial activities are denying Nigeria substantial revenue while fueling insecurity across mining communities. The renewed push was announced on Monday during a High-Level Stakeholders Workshop on Extractive Industry Governance held in Abuja.
Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering, Rep. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem, said the committee was established to investigate illegal mining operations, trace illicit financial flows linked to the sector, assess security concerns and recommend legislative and administrative reforms.
He noted that despite Nigeria’s abundant deposits of gold, lithium, tin, coal, tantalite and other valuable minerals, the country has struggled to translate its natural resources into sustainable economic growth. According to Abdulraheem, illegal mining, weak enforcement and money laundering have continued to widen the gap between the nation’s mineral wealth and the benefits available to citizens.
The lawmaker stressed that addressing illegal mining reforms requires coordinated action from multiple institutions rather than isolated interventions. He said regulators, security agencies, financial intelligence institutions, state governments, traditional rulers, licensed mining operators and civil society organisations all have important roles to play in restoring order to the extractive sector.
Abdulraheem disclosed that the committee has already begun engaging relevant agencies and would compel cooperation where necessary to obtain accurate information for its investigation. He also appealed to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office to provide licensing records and regulatory data that would support ongoing reforms.
The committee chairman called on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mining Marshals, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to deepen collaboration in combating illegal mining and tracking suspicious financial transactions connected to the industry.
He assured licensed mining companies that the committee’s investigation was not aimed at legitimate operators but at protecting lawful businesses and ensuring transparency within the sector. According to him, responsible mining can become a major driver of economic development when conducted within the law.
Declaring the workshop open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, described the assignment before the committee as one of the legislature’s most significant responsibilities. He said criminal exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources has deprived the country of critical revenue needed for development while undermining efforts to diversify the economy.
Abbas urged stakeholders to provide practical recommendations and credible information that would help lawmakers develop effective policies to strengthen governance in the extractive industry. He emphasised that the engagement was intended as a collaborative process rather than an adversarial exercise.
Representing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Hajiya Fatima Usman Katsina commended the House committee for initiating dialogue with stakeholders. She said stronger cooperation between federal and state governments would improve governance within the solid minerals sector and unlock its economic potential. According to her, the forum remains committed to supporting reforms capable of boosting investment and transparency.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, represented by Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC Attah John Onoja, called for the establishment of a special court dedicated to prosecuting illegal mining offences. He disclosed that security operations have resulted in the arrest of more than 671 suspected illegal miners since 2024, with 397 suspects already facing prosecution.
Audi added that enforcement activities have led to the shutdown of several illegal mining locations, improved regulatory compliance and increased government revenue from mining operations. He also advocated increased funding for drones, CCTV surveillance systems, logistics, manpower and the creation of a national mining situation room to strengthen Nigeria’s response to illegal mining activities.
