FG urged to take stronger measures against illegal mining to boost revenue

Renevlyn Development Initiative has called for stronger action against illegal mining to boost Nigeria’s rising mining revenue. RDI`s executive director, Philip Jakpor, made the call in an interview on Sunday in Abuja.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, recently announced that the sector’s revenue increased from ₦6 billion in 2023 to ₦38 billion in 2024. Alake said that this was due to tighter licensing, a crackdown on illegal mining, and a policy that promotes mineral processing in line with value addition. Mr Jakpor described the significant increase in Nigeria’s solid mineral earnings as positive but still a far cry from the country’s potential.
“The quantum leap in Nigeria’s earnings from solid minerals is a good development, but still a far cry from where we should be as a nation because the government is yet to plug the economic losses attributable to illegal mining. The value addition that the minister alluded to is disputable because most of the firms involved in mining are still foreign firms that export the minerals raw, which is why illegal mining persists. We need to see concrete steps to stop illegal mining,” he said. According to him, Nigeria’s mining standards are inadequate, and the government should enforce standards that mining firms must meet to operate in the country. He said the move would help address hazards to which miners are exposed, such as mine collapses. NAN