The Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ajao Adewale, has revealed that illegal mining in Nigeria has evolved into a cartel-controlled enterprise, backed by powerful Nigerians, with the proceeds used to finance terrorism and banditry. He warned that this illicit activity costs the nation an estimated $9 billion (₦13.7 trillion) each year.
Speaking at a media briefing organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council themed “The Fight Against Illegal Mining: Role of the Media”, Adewale described illegal mining as one of the gravest threats to Nigeria’s national security.
“The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) estimates Nigeria loses up to $9 billion annually to illegal mining and gold smuggling,” he said. “Illegal mining is more than an economic crime; it fuels insecurity, degrades our environment, undermines lawful investments, and robs the nation of vital resources.”
Adewale highlighted that reports indicate powerful Nigerians are the main orchestrators of these operations, using foreign nationals as fronts while channeling funds to terrorist and bandit groups.
He explained that the scale and coordination of these illegal mining operations meet the global definition of cartel activity, especially when criminal groups exert control over extraction in remote, unmonitored areas.
“In Nigeria’s context, these networks coordinate control over land, extraction, and smuggling, resembling cartel-like behavior,” he noted.
Referring to a recent briefing by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, Adewale reiterated that influential Nigerians are behind illegal mining and its funding of insecurity. The Minister emphasized that grassroots artisanal miners are not the primary culprits; rather, well-connected individuals orchestrate the criminal networks.
The commissioner identified Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Osun, and parts of the FCT as major hotspots for illegal mining. Within the FCT, locations such as Gwagwalada, Asokoro, Gaube, Kuje, and Katampe Extension have witnessed illegal mining activities, leading to the arrest of 72 suspects by the NSCDC, Police, and EFCC between 2023 and 2024.
Enforcement and Media Partnership
At the event, Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, warned that criminal cartels are spreading propaganda to undermine enforcement efforts.
“We will not succumb to blackmail aimed at weakening our resolve. Combating illegal mining requires more than enforcement agencies—it demands partnership with the media,” Onoja said.
He detailed how the Mining Marshals, established under the Tinubu administration by the directive of Minister Dele Alake, have dismantled illegal mining camps, prosecuted offenders, and restored order in volatile areas. Despite facing operational challenges like entrenched interests and limited resources, Onoja stressed the campaign’s critical importance for Nigeria’s survival.
“Nigeria’s mineral wealth belongs to all Nigerians and must not be plundered by a few,” he declared.
Impact and Call for Media Vigilance
The National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dele Ayanleke, described illegal mining as a crisis driven by corruption, poverty, and weak governance.
“From child labor in Nasarawa’s lithium mines to mercury poisoning in Zamfara’s gold fields, the consequences are devastating. Illegal mining undermines legitimate investors, destroys communities, and fuels insecurity,” Ayanleke said. “Sustained attention from the media is essential to dismantle these cartels.”
Grace Ike, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, urged journalists to go beyond routine reporting and take an active investigative role.
“As gatekeepers of truth, we must expose, educate, and inform the public about the devastating effects of illegal mining,” she said.
Ike cautioned against sensationalism, emphasizing the need for balanced, transparent, and accountable reporting.
“Through accurate coverage, the media can highlight the hidden dangers, human suffering, and environmental damage caused by illegal mining, compelling policymakers to act decisively.”
She reaffirmed the NUJ FCT’s commitment to amplifying the voices of affected communities nationwide, empowering citizens to demand stronger regulatory oversight and environmental protections.
