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| Photo Credit — Mining ⛏️ |
Illegal mining of solid minerals continues to pose significant economic, environmental, and security challenges in Nigeria. Security agencies, regulators, and lawmakers have described the activity as more than an economic offence, noting its links to organised crime in some regions, environmental damage, and risks to communities.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), through its Mining Marshals unit, has characterised unregulated mining as a national security issue requiring coordinated, intelligence-led responses. The House of Representatives Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering has similarly called it a sophisticated threat with implications for security, revenue, environmental sustainability, and governance.
In response, the Federal Government has combined enforcement, prosecution, and efforts to formalise artisanal mining. Mining Marshals have been deployed nationwide to identify illegal sites, make arrests, and protect licensed operations.
According to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, the Marshals had identified 374 illegal mining sites, cleared 108, arrested 743 suspects, and prosecuted 165 cases involving 430 accused persons, resulting in five convictions. Additional operations have led to further arrests, including foreign nationals in some cases. The government has also revoked thousands of mining licences as part of broader efforts to sanitise the sector.
The network involved often extends beyond individual diggers to include buyers, middlemen, financiers, processors, and, in certain instances, foreign operators. Authorities have highlighted cases involving Chinese nationals and others in lithium, gold, and related minerals, with some matters referred for further investigation where links to wider insecurity were suspected.
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Regional Patterns
The nature and impact of illegal mining differ by state.
In Zamfara, gold mining has overlapped with insecurity in areas such as Maru, Anka, Bukkuyum, Talata Mafara, and Zurmi. While many local residents rely on artisanal mining for livelihoods, unregulated sites have raised concerns about armed groups and environmental effects on farmland and water sources. Pit collapses and other incidents have been reported.
Niger State has seen activity involving gold and multiple other minerals across several local government areas. Enforcement actions have included arrests of foreign nationals. A high-profile incident involving the deaths of dozens of suspects in custody remains under official investigation, with a federal committee established.
Plateau State has recorded multiple mining-related accidents and security incidents resulting in significant loss of life in recent years. The state government suspended mining in numerous local government areas and later cleared a number of operators under regulated categories. Monitoring remains difficult due to remote and scattered sites.
Similar patterns appear elsewhere. Nasarawa has become a notable lithium area, attracting both local and foreign interest and prompting intensified checks. Taraba has seen repeated suspensions of mining activities by the state government amid environmental and security concerns. Ebonyi has dealt with abandoned pits and related safety risks.
Other states including Bauchi, Kaduna, Kebbi, Adamawa, Benue, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Edo, Kogi, and Kwara have reported unauthorised gold, lithium, gemstone, or other mineral extraction, often accompanied by land degradation, pollution concerns, or local tensions.
In several locations, authorities and community groups have raised issues of revenue leakage, environmental harm, and the movement of operators between sites after enforcement actions.
Security Dimensions
Security analysts have urged the government to treat unregulated mining as a national security priority. They note that proceeds from illicit mineral trade can potentially support armed groups, while weak control of sites creates opportunities for criminal networks. Comparisons have been drawn to experiences in other countries where mineral resources have become intertwined with conflict.
Experts stress the need for stronger protection of mining communities, proper regulation, and prevention of mineral proceeds financing insecurity.
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Child Labour and Health Risks
Beyond security and revenue losses, unregulated mining raises serious concerns about child involvement and long-term health effects.
Children living or working near mining sites may be exposed to dust, heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and physical hazards including unstable pits. Experts in pharmacology, toxicology, public health, and reproductive health have warned that such exposure can affect developing brains, lungs, and overall growth.
Toxic metal exposure has been linked to neurological effects that may influence cognitive development. Prolonged inhalation of mineral dust can contribute to respiratory problems, including conditions associated with silica. Physical risks include collapses and injuries from unsuitable tools or heavy loads. Contaminants can also enter water sources, soil, and food chains, affecting wider communities.
Public-health specialists note that Nigeria’s experience with lead poisoning linked to artisanal gold mining in places such as Zamfara illustrates the potential scale of harm. They emphasise that children are especially vulnerable because their bodies are still developing.
Beyond physical health, involvement in mining can interrupt education and create cycles of hazardous labour and limited opportunity. Reproductive-health experts have also pointed to possible longer-term effects of toxic exposure on fertility and future generations.
Experts stress that the core problem is not mining itself but the absence of basic safety measures, protective equipment, environmental controls, and child-protection standards common in regulated operations. They call for stronger data on mining sites, better enforcement of existing laws, investment in formal industrial and artisanal frameworks, alternative livelihoods, education, and healthcare access in affected communities.
Way Forward
Nigeria’s solid minerals sector holds economic potential, yet unregulated extraction continues to generate security risks, environmental damage, revenue losses, and public-health costs. Official figures on site closures, arrests, and prosecutions show active enforcement, while state-level suspensions and task forces reflect growing attention.
Sustained progress will require coordinated intelligence-driven operations, clearer formalisation pathways for legitimate artisanal miners, consistent environmental and safety standards, community engagement, and protection of children from hazardous work. Comprehensive monitoring systems that track both legal and illegal sites could help authorities intervene earlier and reduce the broader costs of the current situation.
This article draws on publicly reported statements from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, NSCDC, state governments, National Assembly committees, and expert commentary. Figures and incident details reflect available official and media reports at the time of writing and may be subject to further verification or updates.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers news, politics, current affairs, education, and technology.
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