The Nasarawa State Government has stepped up its campaign against illegal mining with the arrest of several foreign nationals and local operators during a security operation in Amba Community, Kokona Local Government Area.
The operation is part of efforts to curb revenue losses, strengthen regulation of the mining sector and protect investments in one of Nigeria’s leading solid minerals states.
The enforcement exercise, led by Deputy Governor Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe on Friday, led to the recovery of suspected illegally mined minerals packed in cartons and the seizure of equipment used at the mining site.
Among the items recovered were closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras allegedly installed to monitor activities around the site and help operators evade security agencies.
Speaking during the operation, Akabe said the state government remains committed to ending illegal mining, protecting Nasarawa’s mineral resources and ensuring that all mining activities comply with Nigeria’s mining laws.
He said the state would continue working with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Mining Marshals and other security agencies to dismantle illegal mining networks, protect legitimate investors and ensure that the state’s mineral resources contribute more to economic development.
The deputy governor said the arrested suspects would be handed over to the appropriate security and regulatory agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution if found to have violated the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
The latest operation comes as the Federal Government and mineral-producing states intensify efforts to tackle illegal mining, which has continued to reduce government revenue through the loss of royalties, taxes and licence fees while discouraging legitimate investment in the sector.
According to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Nigeria’s solid minerals sector generated ₦38.31 billion in government revenue in 2023. However, the industry also recorded significant outstanding liabilities owed by operators, highlighting the need for stronger enforcement and improved compliance.
Although the mining sector contributes less than one per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Federal Government has identified it as a key sector for diversifying the economy away from dependence on crude oil.
The crackdown also supports ongoing reforms by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which established the Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining across the country.
The ministry has said security operations have led to hundreds of arrests, the recovery of several illegal mining sites and ongoing prosecutions aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks and improving investor confidence.
Nasarawa is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most mineral-rich states, with commercially viable deposits of lithium, barite, tin, columbite, tantalite, limestone, marble and gemstones.
The growing global demand for lithium, driven by the expansion of electric vehicle battery production and renewable energy storage, has attracted increasing investor interest in the state.
Recent investments in lithium processing have further positioned Nasarawa as an important location in Nigeria’s drive to move beyond exporting raw minerals to local processing and value addition.
However, industry experts warn that illegal mining and mineral smuggling continue to threaten these gains by reducing government revenue, encouraging environmental degradation, distorting production records and creating unfair competition for licensed operators.
NEITI has repeatedly identified weak monitoring, poor production reporting and inadequate compliance with licensing requirements as major factors limiting revenue generation from the mining industry.
Studies on Nigeria’s critical minerals sector have also identified illegal mining and weak regulatory enforcement as major obstacles to maximising the country’s lithium resources.
Analysts say sustained action against illegal mining could improve royalty collection, increase transparency across the mining value chain and strengthen investor confidence as Nigeria seeks to expand export earnings from solid minerals.
State officials said the latest operation forms part of a broader strategy to restore order in the mining sector, protect strategic mineral assets and ensure that the state’s mineral wealth contributes more to economic growth, job creation and internally generated revenue.
They added that the government would continue collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Mining Marshals, security agencies and other regulators to eliminate illegal mining and promote responsible mineral development.
Analysts believe the long-term success of the crackdown will depend not only on the number of arrests made but also on sustained enforcement, successful prosecution of offenders, stronger regulatory compliance and the ability to convert the state’s rich mineral resources into lasting economic benefits.