The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday announced plans to launch a nationwide crackdown on illegal gold miners as part of a broader effort to protect Nigeria’s natural resources and enhance revenue generation.
The decision follows the Council’s approval to broaden the mandate of its Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, to also address issues relating to illegal mining and mineral smuggling.
Briefing journalists after the 153rd NEC meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Uzodinma said the expansion underscores government’s commitment to blocking revenue leakages in the solid minerals sector.
“The Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, which I chair, presented an interim report to the Council today,” Uzodinma said. “NEC received the report and decided to expand our Terms of Reference to include solid minerals because a significant portion of our mineral wealth is being illegally mined and does not contribute to national revenue.”
He explained that the committee will collaborate closely with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and relevant security agencies to combat gold smuggling, unregulated quarrying, and illegal mineral exports.
“Moving forward, we will ensure that proceeds from the country’s solid minerals — including gold and other valuable resources — are properly accounted for and not siphoned off through illegal activities,” he said.
Originally established in August 2022 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, the committee was tasked with tackling crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism that had severely hampered Nigeria’s oil production.
When President Bola Tinubu reconstituted the body in December 2023, daily oil output had fallen to between 700,000 and 800,000 barrels per day, far below the nation’s OPEC quota, worsening foreign exchange challenges.
Nigeria’s illegal mining industry has since grown into a multibillion-naira black market, particularly in gold, lithium, and other high-value minerals. According to NEITI, the country loses over $9 billion annually to illegal mining and mineral smuggling.
Most unlicensed mining operations are reportedly controlled by criminal networks and armed groups operating across the North-West and North-Central regions, where proceeds from illicit gold trade often fund banditry and cross-border crime.
A 2023 NEITI audit found that over 80 percent of mining activities in Nigeria are informal and unregulated. It also highlighted challenges faced by law enforcement due to inadequate manpower and overlapping mandates among regulatory agencies.
In response, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development revoked more than 900 inactive mining licenses in September 2024 and introduced a national gold reserve policy to strengthen traceability and promote value addition within the country.
Governor Uzodinma said the expanded NEC committee would integrate anti-mining efforts into the same resource protection framework that has been applied to the oil and gas sector.
“We have made progress in securing oil assets,” he noted. “We’ve recommended that NNPC, in collaboration with security agencies, should enhance surveillance in the creeks and extend coverage offshore. The same approach will now be applied to protect our solid minerals.”
The committee is expected to present its first progress report on the extended mandate at the next NEC meeting in November.
