The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said President Bola Tinubu has fully supported him in taking strong action against state governments and others who are interfering with the federal government’s right to manage the mining sector.
He added that powerful individuals who benefit from illegal mining and insecurity are blocking efforts by the ministry to fix the problems.
Alake spoke about the President’s support during a retreat for ministry staff in Abuja. The event, held on Friday, was themed “Enhancing performance, strengthening accountability, and fostering innovation in the solid mineral sector.”
He said he had to get the President’s approval to respond to recent problems, including sudden mining bans by some states, overlapping regulations, and attacks against the newly created Mining Marshals — a special security team meant to stop illegal mining.
Alake warned that these issues are hurting investor confidence and reducing national income from mining.
He said, “We’ve had success, but we also face real challenges. These problems are not just from within the ministry but from external sources.”
He said the resistance mostly comes from people who are gaining from illegal mining and don’t want the new security efforts to succeed.
“For example,” he explained, “the Mining Marshals we created are being attacked and accused falsely. Some people even tried to get me to remove them with fake bribery claims. But unless I see solid proof, no one will be removed. I do not give in to pressure or blackmail.”
Alake also criticized state governments for issuing their own mining rules, suspending activities, and banning operations. He said this confuses investors and creates legal uncertainty.
He reminded everyone that mining is on the “Exclusive Legislative List,” which means only the federal government has the right to make rules for the sector.
The minister said that state and federal governments giving conflicting orders is scaring investors away and creating a mess in the industry.
He said that despite previous talks with state governors, some of them are still ignoring the law, which led him to report the situation to the President.
“There are too many regulators in the mining sector,” Alake said. “According to the constitution, only the federal government should be in charge. But some states are still trying to control mining activities on their own, which sends the wrong message to investors.”
He said he had already met with 32 governors and explained that while states can’t regulate mining directly, they can set up state-run companies and apply for licenses — and he’s approved some of these already. But some states are still refusing to cooperate.
“I have told the President everything,” he added. “He has given me the green light to take firm action. So expect to hear more about what we are doing soon.”
Alake also announced that the Nigerian Solid Minerals Company (NSMC) has officially started. This new company will help attract foreign investment and grow the mining sector.
The NSMC will be owned 50% by private investors, 25% by the government, and 25% will be sold to Nigerians through public shares.
He said the company will take over the assets of the old Nigerian Mining Corporation and use them to boost the industry.
The NSMC already has an office in Abuja and is working with consultants and the Ministry of Finance to complete its setup.
Alake said the new company is a big step toward growing Nigeria’s economy. With help from private investors, the company is expected to create jobs, grow the mining industry, and increase government income.
He shared some recent achievements: mining license revenue grew from ₦6 billion in 2023 to ₦12.58 billion in 2024, royalties rose to ₦36.8 billion, and over 300 small-scale mining cooperatives were formally registered.
Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, said the ministry’s changes have already brought in massive investments.
He noted that revenue grew from \$6 billion to \$38 billion in under two years, and more than \$800 billion in foreign investment was attracted.
He praised the creation of the NSMC and said it could transform Nigeria’s mining sector just like oil and gas did — but stressed that strong institutions are needed to make sure communities benefit.
The retreat was organized under the Central Delivery Coordination Unit to review the ministry’s progress. It brought together lawmakers, ministry staff, and other stakeholders to align their goals with the President’s vision.
The event also aimed to improve teamwork, leadership, and focus on results. It will help ensure that department plans match national priorities and ministerial goals.
