The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has confirmed that foreign nationals arrested for illegal mining activities and suspected links to terrorism have been handed over to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for further investigation.
Alake made this known on Friday while responding to questions from journalists during an event in Abuja.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the minister spoke against the backdrop of allegations by some United States lawmakers linking illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria to the financing of terrorist activities.
Although the minister did not reveal the exact number of foreign nationals transferred to the Office of the National Security Adviser, he said the Federal Government had intensified its crackdown on illegal mining activities across the country.
According to him, more than 327 individuals, including foreign nationals, have so far been arrested for illegal mining offences.
He added that about 142 suspects were currently facing prosecution, while approximately 3,000 mining licences had been revoked as part of efforts to sanitise the sector.
The minister said the crackdown reflected the Federal Government’s determination to tackle economic sabotage and insecurity associated with illegal mining operations.
Alake attributed the achievements recorded in the sector to the reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu in the solid minerals industry.
According to him, the reforms have significantly boosted government revenue generation from the sector.
He said revenue from the solid minerals sector increased from ₦6bn in 2023 to more than ₦70bn as of December 2025.
The minister maintained that the administration’s policies were gradually repositioning the mining industry and restoring investor confidence.
The minister expressed confidence that the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration would address longstanding institutional weaknesses and corruption in the country.
He stated that the progress recorded in the mining sector and other areas of the economy demonstrated that the government’s policies were yielding positive results.
Alake also urged stakeholders and operators in the solid minerals industry to adopt the right mindset and demonstrate greater social responsibility to help move the sector forward.
Addressing industry players at the event, he charged them to develop “the right mental attitude” and a strong sense of social conscience in order to unlock the sector’s full potential.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu had earlier raised concerns over the continued exploitation and illegal extraction of mineral resources across West Africa.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at the Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, the President warned that illegal mining poses a serious threat to regional stability.
“I believe the time has come for us to designate resource theft, mining, and stealing of minerals in the region as an international crime that threatens regional stability and galvanise the world against threats from stolen minerals from West Africa,” Tinubu said.
The President stressed the need for stronger regional and international collaboration to combat illegal mining and prevent criminal networks from profiting from Africa’s mineral resources.