By Obiabin Onukwugha
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has revealed that over N7billion was generated from mining fees and approvals for private mineral-buying centres across the country between January and September this year, with Southwest being the highest contributor.
The minister also stated that the ministry generated N28bn in revenue in 2024, surpassing the ministry’s budgetary targets for the year. According to him, the ministry also recovered over 90 mining sites.
Alake revealed this at the South-West stakeholders’ dialogue, organised by Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, in collaboration with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and South-West governors, in Akure, Ondo State at the weekend.
Speaking on the theme of the summit, “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future,” the minister highlighted the importance of lawful practices in solid mineral exploitation as part of broader efforts to promote good governance and sustainable development.
Alake revealed that the ministry in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, established mining marshals with the purpose of securing mining sites.
“Over 90 mining sites have been recovered, and over 300 illegal miners have been arrested with 50 of them being prosecuted, and over 20 illegal miners have been convicted since the inception of the present administration.
“The Federal Government raked in N28bn as revenue in 2024 from the ministry. The ministry over-performed on its budgetary target in 2024,” he said.
Alake pointed out that the current administration’s policy on mining stipulates that mined minerals should not be exported raw, except after undergoing local processing to give them a value chain.
He cautioned traditional rulers against conniving with illegal miners, irrespective of financial inducements, saying the future of the country must not be traded.
