By EricJames Ochigbo
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering has called for stronger collaboration to curb illegal mining and financial crimes nationwide.
Committee Chairman, Rep. Sannio Abdulraheem (APC-Kogi), made the appeal on Monday during a stakeholders’ workshop on Extractive Industry Governance in Abuja.
Abdulraheem said Nigeria possesses abundant deposits of gold, lithium, tin, coal and tantalite, yet their economic benefits remain largely untapped because of persistent illegal mining.
He blamed weak enforcement, organised criminal activities and money laundering for undermining the country’s extractive industry and preventing citizens from benefiting from valuable mineral resources.
“That gap has a name: illegal mining, weak enforcement and the laundering of proceeds that should belong to the Nigerian people.
“It is a gap filled by criminal networks, revenue leakages and security threats that have turned some mineral-rich communities into dangerous territories,” he said.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office to provide licensing and regulatory information supporting the committee’s investigations.
The lawmaker also requested security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Mining Marshals, to identify operational challenges requiring legislative intervention.
He appealed to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to intensify efforts against illicit financial flows linked to illegal mining.
Abdulraheem urged state governments and traditional institutions to monitor mining activities within their communities and promptly provide credible intelligence to relevant authorities.
He reaffirmed the committee’s determination to ensure Nigeria’s mineral resources deliver sustainable national development instead of enriching criminal networks through unlawful exploitation.
According to him, the committee was established to investigate illegal mineral exploitation, trace illicit financial flows, assess mining community security and recommend comprehensive regulatory reforms.
He disclosed that relevant agencies had already appeared before the committee, while summons were issued where necessary to obtain critical information.
“We do this not out of confrontation, but out of conviction because oversight without candour achieves nothing.
“Reform without accurate information is guesswork dressed as policy,” he added, stressing the importance of transparency and cooperation from relevant institutions.
Abdulraheem emphasised that ending illegal mining required coordinated action involving federal and state governments, security agencies, financial intelligence institutions, traditional rulers, mining operators and civil society organisations.
The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) commended the committee’s commitment to addressing longstanding governance challenges affecting Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
Head of the NGF Legislative, Peace and Inclusive Security Unit, Hajiya Fatima Usman-Katsina, stressed the importance of aligning policy formulation with effective legislation.
She said bridging existing policy and legislative gaps would significantly strengthen governance, accountability and transparency throughout Nigeria’s extractive industry.
According to Usman-Katsina, the NGF remains committed to protecting states’ interests while supporting reforms that improve governance within the solid minerals sector.
She disclosed that the forum was partnering the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to unlock the sector’s enormous potential for national and subnational economic growth.
“With effective collaboration among all relevant stakeholders, existing policy gaps can be addressed,” she said.
She expressed confidence that stronger cooperation would produce a more transparent, efficient and beneficial mining industry capable of driving sustainable development across Nigeria.
Also speaking, NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, advocated establishing a special court to accelerate prosecution of illegal mining offenders nationwide.
Represented by Mining Marshals Commander, Mr Attah Onoja, Audi described illegal mining as a major driver of insecurity, organised crime and illicit financial flows.
According to him, Mining Marshals have arrested more than 671 suspects since 2024, while 397 have already been charged before competent courts.
Audi said enforcement operations had shut illegal mining sites, strengthened compliance with mining regulations and contributed to a 337 per cent increase in mining revenue.
He called for funding to procure drones, CCTV surveillance systems, a national mining situation room, better logistics and additional personnel.
Audi urged lawmakers to provide stronger legislative backing and adequate resources to sustain ongoing efforts against illegal mining and safeguard Nigeria’s mineral wealth. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)