NSCDC CG, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi

In a bold demonstration of federal resolve, the Mining Marshals, a special enforcement unit under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have sealed an unauthorized lithium mining site in Libata, Ngaski LGA of Kebbi State. The site, allegedly operated by Three Crown Mines Ltd, is at the center of a major scandal involving violations of national mining laws and massive revenue losses to the Nigerian government.

Authorities estimate that the company, reportedly working in collaboration with unidentified foreign partners, illicitly extracted lithium worth over ₦1.43 trillion between 2023 and 2025. This staggering figure, ₦1,431,762,340,450 underscores the severity of mineral theft in a nation still battling to stabilize its economy and strengthen public revenue streams.

Regulatory bodies say Three Crown Mines far exceeded the geographic and quantitative limits of its Small Scale Mining License (SSML) and Exploration License. Even more egregiously, the firm allegedly encroached on mineral titles legally assigned to another licensee an act that constitutes theft under the Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 and its 2011 regulatory framework.

Investigators also found that the company blatantly disregarded key provisions, especially sections 46(2) and 48 of the mining law, by operating well beyond authorized boundaries. This violation not only drained public funds but also disrupted legitimate mining activities, pushing smaller, lawful operators out of business.

Before sealing the site, a joint inspection was carried out by state mine officers, security agencies, and representatives of the company. The closure was executed with precision and finality leaving no room for ambiguity or compromise.

However, while the enforcement action was swift, the legal process is unfolding more slowly.

Acting on a Federal High Court order, the Marshals summoned directors of Three Crown Mines Ltd to appear for interrogation in Abuja on July 21, 2025. But the directors failed to show up, citing “inconvenience” through a letter sent by their legal representative, Y.C. Maikyau, SAN. Within two hours, the Mining Marshals responded sharply, warning the company against obstructing the investigation and demanding a new appearance date acceptable to all parties.

Beyond the legal violations, this case strikes at a deeper national issue concerning Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to enforce sovereignty over its mineral resources. That one company, operating under questionable legal authority, could allegedly strip the nation of such vast reserves, highlights the weaknesses still plaguing regulatory oversight in the mining sector.

Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja, who leads the Mining Marshals, did not mince words. “Nigeria’s mineral wealth is not up for negotiation. Mineral theft is a criminal act not one to be settled over a roundtable,” he declared, reaffirming the NSCDC’s mandate to protect strategic national assets.

His remarks follow closely after another landmark enforcement: a ₦2 billion fine imposed on Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company, sanctioned by the Ministry of Solid Minerals following a similar investigation by the Marshals.

The message is clear under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the oversight of Solid Minerals Minister Dele Alake, the federal government is tightening its grip on the mining sector. Lithium, a mineral of growing global importance in the clean energy transition, is now central to Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy. That it is being stolen on an industrial scale threatens not just revenue but national sovereignty.

Commenting on the development, NSCDC Commandant-General, Prof. Abubakar Ahmed Audi, mni, stated: “Protecting federal revenue through strict enforcement of mining laws is essential to Nigeria’s prosperity. Cleaning up the mining industry is not optional; it’s a necessity.”

Whether the government can sustain this momentum remains to be seen. But for now, the era of unchecked mineral plundering appears to be drawing to a close.