Since the Federal Government lifted the five-year mining restriction in Zamfara State in 2024, attention has increasingly focused on how Nigeria can better harness its vast mineral wealth to drive economic growth and reduce dependence on oil revenues.
The decision was made against the backdrop of growing concerns about illegal mining activities, which experts say have deprived the country of substantial revenues while fuelling insecurity in some mining communities.
According to estimates by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), illegal mining results in annual revenue losses of about nine billion dollars, even as millions of Nigerians continue to face multidimensional poverty.
The reversal of the ban was particularly significant given Zamfara’s abundance of strategic minerals that are increasingly in demand globally, especially for clean energy technologies.
Upon assuming office, President Bola Tinubu pledged to reposition the solid minerals sector and tackle the growing challenge of illegal mining, which had long hindered the industry’s development.
One of the administration’s early policy decisions was the establishment of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, separating it from the former Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. Dele Alake was subsequently appointed to lead the ministry and oversee reforms.
The government adopted a two-pronged approach to address illegal mining. The first focused on formalising artisanal and small-scale mining activities through cooperative societies, while the second centred on stricter enforcement measures.
More than 250 mining cooperatives have reportedly been established under the formalisation programme, providing pathways for miners to operate legally.
In 2024, the government introduced the Mining Marshals, a specialised security outfit tasked with combating illegal mining and protecting licensed operators. The personnel, drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), received specialised training to identify and respond to illegal mining activities and related criminal networks.
Authorities report that enforcement efforts have led to the arrest of more than 300 suspected illegal miners and over 150 prosecutions. Several convictions have also been secured, including cases involving foreign nationals.
The government says nearly 100 illegally occupied mining sites have been reclaimed from unauthorised operators, enabling legitimate licence holders to resume operations.
Officials also disclosed that 457 suspected illegal mining locations have been identified through enhanced intelligence gathering, supported by surveillance technologies such as drones and robotic monitoring devices.
To further strengthen oversight, the Federal Executive Council approved N2.5 billion in 2025 for the acquisition of satellite-based monitoring technology. The system is expected to provide real-time tracking of mining activities, mineral extraction and transportation across the country.
Additional security assets, including operational gun trucks, have also been deployed to support enforcement operations in key mining regions.
The reforms have contributed to renewed investor interest in the sector, with government officials reporting significant foreign direct investment commitments following efforts to improve security and regulatory compliance.
One notable milestone was the conviction of Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, a leader of the Ansaru terrorist group, who received a 15-year prison sentence for illegal mining activities. Stakeholders view the case as a landmark judgment demonstrating the government’s willingness to pursue high-profile offenders.
Despite these gains, experts maintain that major challenges continue to undermine efforts to eliminate illegal mining.
Weak regulatory structures, inadequate manpower, poor oversight and persistent insecurity remain significant concerns. Illegal mining operations often thrive in remote communities where government presence is limited and enforcement agencies face logistical constraints.
Industry stakeholders argue that the current number of Mining Marshals remains insufficient relative to the scale of illegal mining activities nationwide. Although personnel strength has increased over time, coverage remains limited compared to the vast number of mining sites across the country.
Concerns have also been raised regarding allegations of corruption and misconduct involving some enforcement personnel, though officials have consistently denied wrongdoing and insisted on accountability mechanisms.
Analysts further contend that illegal mining continues to benefit from protection networks involving influential individuals, making enforcement efforts difficult and, at times, inconsistent.
Civil society groups have repeatedly highlighted the role of foreign operators and local collaborators in sustaining illicit mineral extraction, citing weak regulation and governance gaps as major contributing factors.
Another challenge is the incomplete formalisation of artisanal miners. Many operators still function outside the legal framework due to licensing hurdles, limited access to finance, inadequate technical support and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Security concerns also persist in mineral-rich regions where illegal mining overlaps with banditry and armed criminal activities, creating additional risks for law enforcement agencies and legitimate operators.
Experts note that weak data management systems and fragmented institutional oversight make it difficult to accurately track mineral production, exports and revenue flows, creating opportunities for illicit activities to flourish.
Beyond enforcement challenges, observers say illegal mining has evolved into a complex informal economy that provides livelihoods for thousands of people across various communities.
In many areas, mining remains a primary source of income, making aggressive crackdowns potentially disruptive unless accompanied by alternative economic opportunities.
Stakeholders identify poverty, unemployment and weak state presence as major factors driving participation in illegal mining. They also point to environmental degradation, water pollution and abandoned mining pits as visible consequences of unregulated extraction.
Many experts agree that addressing illegal mining requires a broader strategy that combines stronger governance, improved security, community engagement and economic inclusion.
They recommend simplifying licensing procedures, expanding support for artisanal miners, increasing surveillance capacity and strengthening cooperation among regulatory agencies, security institutions and local communities.
Industry leaders also advocate greater transparency in mining operations, improved mineral tracking systems and stronger accountability measures to curb corruption and revenue leakages.
As Nigeria continues its efforts to transform the solid minerals sector into a major pillar of economic diversification, stakeholders say sustainable progress will depend on balancing enforcement with reforms that address the underlying social, economic and security issues driving illegal mining across the country.