The Minister of Solid Mineral Resources, Mr. Dele Alake, has alleged that influential Nigerians engaged in illegal mining activities are funding banditry and terrorism in Nigeria. Minister Alake made these startling claims during the 2024 budget defense session before the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals in Abuja.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Alake also pointed out the involvement of foreigners in illegal mining operations within the country. He urged the Federal Government to intensify its focus on the mining sector, which he believes has the potential to contribute trillions to the nation’s annual revenue.
“Nigerians are those powerful people behind them; we identify them with kinetic and non-kinetic means. We have encouraged those petty illegal miners to form cooperatives,” Minister Alake stated.
One of the minister’s concerns is that many foreigners engaged in illegal mining lack proper immigration documentation. To address these issues and ensure the mining sector generates the necessary revenue, Alake proposed establishing a formal structure similar to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
However, he emphasized that the approach would be distinct, with the proposed Nigeria Mining Cooperation being primarily private sector-driven.
Alake disclosed that Nigeria’s mineral wealth is conservatively estimated at over $700 billion, yet only a fraction of this potential has been tapped. He called on the committee chairman, Rep. Gaza Gbefwi, to support the proposed structural changes, emphasizing the importance of engaging host communities to maintain law and order.
In a plea to the committee, Alake urged reconsideration of the budget allocation for the ministry in the 2024 budget proposal, asserting that with adequate funding, the ministry could surpass contributions from other sectors, including oil.
“We can return trillions to the coffers of this country as revenue if we are given such a budget as proposed,” Alake affirmed, noting that Nigeria possesses 44 minerals, with six in global demand. He emphasized the country’s potential to become a global economic hub through the development of its solid minerals sector.
Responding to the minister’s revelations, Rep. Gaza Gbefwi, the chairman of the committee, acknowledged the vital role of the solid minerals sector in diversifying the nation’s economy. However, he expressed concerns about the inadequacy of funds allocated in the 2024 budget and assured that the committee is taking proactive steps to strengthen and reorganize the sector through motions and bills.
The backdrop of the minister’s claims is the escalating presence of militants in northwest and central Nigeria, areas traditionally outside their northeast base. These militants, operating as bandit militias, have been a source of terror for local communities, conducting raids, kidnappings, and acts of violence.