Abuja, November 12, 2025 – The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has announced plans to significantly enhance the operational capacity of the Mining Marshals, the sector’s dedicated enforcement agency, to decisively eliminate illegal mining across Nigeria.
Speaking to participants of Course 34 at the Nigerian Defence College in Abuja during a lecture on the solid minerals value chain and its impact on economic growth, Dr. Alake reaffirmed the Marshals’ critical role in securing mining sites and enforcing compliance with national laws.
“The Mining Marshals have proven their effectiveness as the enforcement arm of the sector,” the Minister said. “We are now scaling up their logistical capabilities – vehicles, equipment, and weaponry – to extend their presence to all 774 local government areas and ensure the safety of mines and miners nationwide.”
Key Achievements of the Mining Marshals
Dr. Alake highlighted the agency’s operational successes, including:
- Reclamation of 90 mining sites from bandits and illegal operators;
- Prosecution of over 300 suspects;
- Ongoing monitoring of 450 high-risk sites vulnerable to illegal mining.
The Minister, represented by his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, emphasized that these results were made possible through seamless collaboration with the Nigerian Army, Police, and other security agencies.
“We appreciate the excellent synergy with sister security agencies. This partnership has been instrumental in the Marshals’ achievements,” he noted.
Transforming the Solid Minerals Value Chain
Dr. Alake outlined how his Seven-Point Agenda has restructured the sector by strengthening governance across licensing, exploration, community engagement, extraction, processing, and sales.
Key reforms include:
- Revenue surge: Ministry revenue rose from N6 billion in 2022 to N12 billion in 2024, and N26 billion as of October 2025 – driven by stricter enforcement of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act;
- Revocation of 3,700 dormant titles under the “use it or lose it” policy for non-payment of fees or failure to commence mining;
- Mandatory compliance with Community Development Agreements (CDAs) and environmental obligations.
To attract global investment, the Minister announced the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, designed to facilitate joint ventures with credible international partners.
Appreciation from the Nigerian Defence College
Air Commodore Olushola Oluokun, Director of Information, Communications, and Technology at the Nigerian Defence College, thanked Dr. Alake on behalf of the participants, describing the lecture as “enlightening and highly relevant” to their strategic studies.
The Minister’s address underscores the federal government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s solid minerals sector into a cornerstone of economic diversification, security, and sustainable development.
