Minister says Tinubu’s reforms are restoring order, investor confidence, and community benefit in Nigeria’s mining sector…..
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, says the deployment of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals has transformed Nigeria’s extractive sector, drastically reducing illegal mining and driving record revenue growth.
Alake made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking at the South-West Leaders Conference in Akure, Ondo State.
According to him, the mining marshals, a special security unit established to combat illegal mining have reclaimed over 90 mining sites across the country and facilitated the prosecution of more than 300 offenders, restoring peace and lawful operations in previously volatile mining communities.
“The mining marshals have given us results. We no longer just talk about illegal mining, we’re taking it back, site by site,” Alake said.
“Today, communities are safer, legitimate investors are returning, and government revenue is rising.”
Reforms Driving Record Growth
The minister noted that the initiative forms part of the broader Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to promote lawful enterprise and create sustainable economic opportunities.
He revealed that government revenue from the solid minerals sector rose from ₦8.6 billion in 2022 to ₦38 billion in 2024, with ₦30 billion already recorded in 2025, attributing the surge to enhanced regulation, enforcement, and investor confidence.
Alake highlighted that the South-West region alone contributed ₦7.2 billion in revenue, underscoring its growing role as a hub for responsible mining and mineral development.
He pointed to the Segilola Gold Project in Osun State, Nigeria’s most successful gold venture alongside hundreds of active quarry and exploration sites, as evidence of renewed investor interest in the sector.
Communities Now Benefiting Directly
To ensure that mining development translates into tangible benefits for host communities, Alake said companies are now mandated to sign Community Development Agreements (CDAs) before commencing operations.
“In just two years, 45 South-West communities have signed CDAs more than double what was achieved in the previous fifteen years,” he disclosed.
He added that these agreements are improving local livelihoods, promoting inclusion, and ensuring communities have a stake in mining activities within their environments.
Next Phase: Value Addition and Partnerships
Looking ahead, the minister said the next stage of reforms will focus on value addition, mineral processing, and stronger public-private partnerships aimed at making the solid minerals sector a major driver of job creation and sustainable growth.
“We are proud of the progress made, but even more determined about what lies ahead,” Alake said.
At the same conference, Reuben Fasoranti, leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, urged South-West political leaders to prioritise performance and public impact over partisan rivalry.
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