Nigeria Loses $9 Billion Annually to Illegal Mining, Fuelling Banditry and Insecurity
Nigeria’s fight against illegal mining has gained momentum, with the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ajao Adewale, revealing that the country loses an estimated N13.7 trillion (approximately $9 billion) annually to the illicit activity. Speaking at an event organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Adewale emphasized that illegal mining has become a powerful cartel-driven enterprise, bankrolled by influential Nigerians, which fuels banditry, terrorism, and insecurity.
According to Adewale, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) reported that the country loses up to $9 billion annually to illegal mining and gold smuggling. This economic crime not only undermines lawful investment and robs the nation of vital resources but also degrades the environment and fuels insecurity. The police chief identified Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Osun, and parts of the FCT as hotspots for illegal mining activities, with over 72 suspects arrested in Abuja alone between 2023 and 2024.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, also pointed to powerful Nigerians as the primary drivers of illegal mining, using foreigners as fronts to fund insecurity. The National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dele Ayanleke, echoed these concerns, warning that corruption, poverty, and weak governance sustain the illicit activity. Ayanleke emphasized that the consequences of illegal mining are severe, ranging from child labour in Nasarawa’s lithium fields to mercury poisoning in Zamfara’s gold sites.
To combat this issue, the Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike, urged journalists to go beyond ordinary reportage and conduct investigative journalism that exposes financiers, amplifies community voices, and pressures policymakers. Ike emphasized that as gatekeepers of truth, journalists have a critical role in educating the public on the devastating effects of illegal mining.
With Nigeria’s economy heavily reliant on the extractive industry, the fight against illegal mining is crucial to preventing the loss of revenue and promoting sustainable development. As efforts to dismantle these cartels continue, it remains to be seen whether the government and relevant stakeholders can effectively address the root causes of this illicit activity and ensure that the country’s natural resources are used for the benefit of its citizens.
