In a decisive move to choke off terrorism financing and money laundering linked to Nigeria’s mineral resources, the Federal Government has entered into a strategic partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Funded by the Canadian government, the new project aims to boost the capacity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system to detect, investigate and prosecute illicit financial flows used to bankroll armed groups, conflict and organised crime in the solid minerals sector.
UNODC’s Project Coordinator on Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Tom Parker, led a delegation to meet with the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, in Abuja. Parker hailed Nigeria’s crackdown on illegal mining, including the creation of Mining Marshals a special unit tackling mineral crimes nationwide.
Commending the UN support, Alake said the backing would strengthen the government’s bold steps to clean up the mining sector and starve criminal networks of illicit profits.
“When I assumed office, I realised we needed a new security architecture for the mining sector. I sought President Tinubu’s approval to establish the Mining Marshals and they’ve been doing a great job arresting and prosecuting illegal miners,” Alake said. “The goal is to send a clear message that it can’t be business as usual. Already, many operators are regularising their operations and obeying the law.”
He added that President Tinubu has approved a cutting-edge satellite monitoring system to track mines across the country and swiftly deploy security forces to sites where illegal activities occur.
The UNODC team, which included Project Officers Inneke Geysens-Bourgions and Nicole Andersen, pledged continued collaboration with Nigeria to disrupt illegal mineral flows and safeguard the sector’s role in national growth.
The fresh partnership is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda to transform solid minerals into a pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification while shutting down channels that fund insecurity.
