The Nigerian government has taken strong action against illegal mining across the northern states, making significant progress in stopping unauthorized activities. The Mining Marshals, a special enforcement unit, have been key in this fight since their formation in March 2024.
So far, the Marshals have arrested 327 illegal miners and reclaimed 98 mining sites that were previously under illegal control. These efforts have allowed licensed operators to resume work without interference.
At a press conference in Abuja, Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, praised the enforcement efforts. He revealed that 147 individuals are currently on trial for illegal mining in different courts across the country.
One of the biggest crackdowns took place in Kogi State, where over 3,000 illegal miners were removed from Mining Lease 19325 in Jagula. These miners had been extracting gold illegally since 2016, preventing the rightful license holders from operating. The Mining Marshals restored control to the legal owners and assigned security personnel to prevent further illegal activities.
In Kwara State, authorities secured convictions of foreign illegal miners, including Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan. This marks a major step in stopping non-Nigerians from engaging in illegal mining.
In Abuja, the Mining Marshals also reclaimed illegal mining sites, including those operated by Ganan Mining Limited in Kuje.
The government has also identified and targeted illegal mining activities in Niger, Zamfara, and Kaduna States, where such activities have been linked to security issues like banditry and terrorism financing.
Minister Alake emphasized that illegal mining had severely affected legitimate businesses, but the Mining Marshals’ actions have significantly reduced these activities. The government plans to strengthen enforcement by increasing security and boosting revenue from the solid minerals sector.
The number of Mining Marshals has grown from 2,200 to 2,679, with 450 new recruits joining in the past year. The government is also working on using satellite technology, drones, and miniature robots to improve monitoring of mining sites.
Security agencies like the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force have played an important role in supporting these enforcement efforts.
