The Federal Government has joined forces with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to combat the growing threat of illegal mining and the criminal activities it funds.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, confirmed the collaboration in a statement released on Monday through his media aide, Segun Tomori. Alake said the partnership would strengthen Nigeria’s ability to crack down on illicit mineral trade and financial crimes tied to natural resource exploitation.
The initiative, which is funded by the Canadian government, will focus on enhancing the skills and capacity of key players within the criminal justice system, enabling them to more effectively track and prosecute those involved in the illegal mining network.
This includes detection, investigation, and prosecution of illicit financial flows linked to conflict financing, armed groups, and money laundering in the solid minerals sector.
He explained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to tackling illegal mining through various targeted policies and reforms.
He highlighted the Mining Marshals policy, a unit he initiated under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to avoid legal hurdles.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unit’s personnel were trained in tactical and strategic skills to detect, engage, and stop illegal miners, bandits, and other sectoral criminals.
“In the illegal mining space, we created the Mining Marshals. I realised we needed a dedicated security framework for the mining sector.
“I sought the President’s approval for the unit. They have since arrested and prosecuted several illegal miners across the country.
“The aim is to send a strong message that illegal operations will no longer be tolerated. The results have been encouraging,” Alake said.
He added that more operators are now regularising their activities and complying with Nigeria’s mining laws and regulations.
The minister revealed that President Tinubu has also approved a satellite monitoring system to further prevent illegal practices at mining sites.
He said the system would help security personnel detect incident locations and dispatch forces swiftly to affected areas.
NAN reports that a UNODC delegation led by Project Coordinator on Counter-Terrorism, Mr Tom Parker, visited the minister in Abuja.
Parker commended Alake’s efforts, particularly the creation of Mining Marshals, who have arrested 327 suspects and prosecuted 143 since early 2024.
