Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development

The Federal Government has rejected the call by some northern governors for a nationwide suspension of mining activities as part of efforts to curb banditry and insecurity in the region.
The governors had argued that illegal mining operations are being exploited by criminal groups to finance banditry, illegal arms procurement, and other violent activities. They proposed a temporary halt to mining as a strategy to disrupt these funding channels and restore security.
However, the Federal Government maintained that a blanket suspension of mining would not be the most effective solution. Officials emphasized that the real problem lies in illegal and unregulated mining, not in licensed operators who comply with existing laws and regulations.
The government reiterated its commitment to strengthening surveillance, enforcing mining regulations, and deploying security agencies to clamp down on illegal operators. It also stressed the importance of formalizing artisanal miners and integrating them into the legal framework to ensure better monitoring and accountability.
While acknowledging the security concerns raised by the northern governors, the Federal Government assured Nigerians that it would continue to pursue targeted measures aimed at tackling banditry without undermining legitimate economic activities in the mining sector.