Despite Nigeria’s abundant wealth in solid minerals, the nation remains entangled in chronic poverty, widespread insecurity, and crumbling infrastructure. A key reason for this paradox lies in the entrenched network of illegal mining operations — not just by common criminals, but by powerful, well-connected individuals operating with near-total impunity. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, recently shed light on this troubling dynamic, asserting that these clandestine operators are “powerful people” within Nigerian society. He emphasized that both kinetic (military) and non-kinetic (diplomatic or investigative) methods are being deployed to unearth and confront them.
Alake’s disclosure speaks to a deep-rooted problem that cuts across multiple administrations — one where individuals, cloaked in influence and affluence, profit from Nigeria’s natural resources while sponsoring violence and chaos to mask their plunder. The result is a nation ranked 5th on the Global Terrorism Index for 2025, as illicit activities and terrorism become disturbingly intertwined.
The Gold Curse: Illegal Mining’s Billion-Dollar Drain
Nigeria’s tragic mining story is not new. In 2017, during Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency, the Federal Government estimated a staggering annual loss of $9 billion due to illegal mining and the illicit export of resources like gold, coal, zinc, tin, and lead. Today, lithium — critical for energy storage and electric vehicles — joins the list. This massive revenue hemorrhage continues unchecked, depriving the government of taxes and royalties while financing insurgent groups who exploit the chaos for cover.
The socio-economic implications are dire. Every day, ordinary Nigerians navigate a brutal double assault of hunger and insecurity, forced to endure conditions made worse by the deliberate actions of economic saboteurs. The impact is particularly acute in mineral-rich but violence-ridden regions like Zamfara, Benue, Plateau, Borno, and Niger.
Weaponizing Terrorism: Mining Behind the Mask of Bloodshed
Alake’s warning adds fuel to long-standing suspicions. For years, analysts and politicians alike have hinted at the sinister relationship between insecurity and mining. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator Adams Oshiomhole once alluded to the possibility that retired military generals were involved in Boko Haram’s terror campaigns. Similarly, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central have both implied that the slaughter of civilians in states like Benue and Plateau may have less to do with ethnic clashes or herder-farmer conflicts and more to do with the mineral wealth beneath the blood-soaked soil.
These allegations suggest a chilling possibility: Nigeria’s deadliest conflicts may be engineered smokescreens for clandestine mining operations. Boko Haram, bandits, and violent herders may not just be ideological actors — they may also be economic mercenaries guarding resource extraction routes.
Understanding Illegal Mining: A System of Organized Exploitation
Illegal mining, simply put, refers to mineral extraction conducted without government authorization or adherence to environmental and safety standards. It bypasses permits, ignores regulations, and often employs hazardous methods that poison water bodies, pollute soil, and endanger lives.
Despite possessing over 44 types of solid minerals spread across 500 sites nationwide, Nigeria has yet to effectively harness this wealth for development. The Solid Minerals Development Fund — a collaboration between Nigeria and the Africa Finance Corporation — places the sector’s potential at $700 billion. Analysts at Agusto & Co project that Zamfara alone could yield $1.4 billion annually from gold mining, while experts say Osun State’s gold reserves are worth $5 billion.
Other states, including Niger, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, and the FCT, also boast gold and other minerals. Yet the wealth continues to elude the masses. Why? Because of entrenched criminal enterprises aided by compromised government officials, complicit traditional rulers, and unscrupulous security agents.
The Price of Complicity: Poisoned Lands, Lost Lives
Zamfara’s tale of riches and ruin is instructive. Here, illegal mining not only funds banditry but has also caused fatal lead poisoning among children, contaminated soil and water, and left entire communities devastated. These same toxic consequences ripple across other mining hotspots.
In 2021, then Minister of Solid Minerals, Uche Ogah, openly admitted that private jets were being used to smuggle gold out of Nigeria, costing the country $5 billion in just six years (2012–2018). Such admissions reveal the brazenness of the operation — this is not a loosely run criminal network; it is a well-oiled machine with access to elite privileges and state blind spots.
A Sleeping Giant: Nigeria’s Neglected Mining Potential
While oil and gas have long dominated Nigeria’s economic focus, this has left the mining sector grossly underdeveloped and vulnerable to abuse. The irony is stark: in an era where diversification is imperative, a goldmine of opportunity sits idle while illegal actors exploit it.
Mining offers more than revenue. It could catalyze industrial growth, stimulate employment (especially for the youth), enhance foreign exchange earnings, and reduce dependence on oil. But Nigeria has yet to put the policies, protections, and enforcement mechanisms in place to make this vision a reality.
Who Is Behind It All?
At the heart of the matter lies a critical question: Who exactly are the culprits orchestrating this national sabotage? According to multiple sources — including government officials, civil society, and media investigations — the masterminds span a disturbing cross-section of Nigerian society:
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Retired military officers who leverage old networks to secure access and immunity;
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Traditional rulers who sign off on illegal access in exchange for bribes;
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Foreign nationals, especially from Asia and the Middle East, who run sophisticated smuggling syndicates;
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Top government insiders who provide permits and security passes under the table;
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Local enforcers and armed gangs who protect illegal mining sites.
The scale of the racket requires high-level coordination — something only individuals in positions of serious power and influence can manage.
Charting the Way Forward: A National Imperative
If Nigeria is to reclaim its mineral wealth, stop the bloodshed, and reverse its economic slide, urgent actions must be taken:
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Identify and Prosecute Sponsors: The government must decisively expose and prosecute those behind insurgency and illegal mining. Without accountability, impunity will continue to reign.
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Reinforce Security Collaboration: A multi-layered security strategy involving federal, state, and local operatives — in partnership with traditional and religious leaders — is vital to dismantle the criminal mining networks.
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Regulate and Formalize Mining: Streamlining the licensing process, offering incentives for legal operations, and investing in technology to track mining activities can transform the sector into a transparent revenue source.
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Empower Communities: Locals must benefit from the minerals in their regions. This can be achieved through resource-sharing frameworks, employment opportunities, and community development initiatives.
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Public Transparency: The government should publish data on mining licenses, tax contributions, and environmental audits, making the entire sector accountable to the people.
Enough Blood for Gold
The era of exploiting Nigeria’s wealth under the veil of terror must come to an end. No longer should innocent lives be sacrificed for illegal profits. The future demands that Nigeria harnesses its mineral riches not for the few, but for the many — and does so in a way that uplifts communities, grows the economy, and restores dignity to a nation long plundered by its own elite.
Only when the mask of terrorism is removed and the true faces behind illegal mining are revealed and punished, can Nigeria truly begin its journey from poverty to prosperity.
