By lsiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor, Abuja

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has warned that mining companies that fail to fulfil their Community Development Agreements (CDAs) with host communities will face strict sanctions, including the possible revocation of their operating licences.
Speaking at the 2026 Ministerial Retreat in Abuja, Alake said the Federal Government had made significant progress in repositioning Nigeria’s solid minerals sector through a series of reforms that have restored investor confidence and attracted credible investments into the industry.
According to the minister, the sector has emerged as a critical component of the government’s economic diversification agenda, contributing to efforts aimed at reducing the nation’s dependence on oil revenues. He, however, stressed that sustaining the gains recorded so far would require greater accountability from all stakeholders.
Alake stated that host communities must benefit from the natural resources extracted from their lands, noting that the government would not tolerate mining operators who neglect their obligations under existing agreements. He emphasized that companies that fail to honour their commitments would face appropriate regulatory actions.
The minister also reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to eliminate illegal mining across the country. He disclosed that efforts to strengthen the operations of the Mining Marshals would continue as part of broader measures to secure mining sites and protect national mineral resources.
He added that the ministry would continue to embrace innovative and practical solutions aimed at improving security within the sector, increasing transparency, and ensuring that the benefits of mining activities reach both local communities and the wider Nigerian economy.
Alake expressed confidence that with sustained reforms, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and active stakeholder collaboration, Nigeria’s solid minerals sector would continue to attract investment and play a more prominent role in the country’s economic growth and developmen