Though Nigeria is abundantly blessed with over 44 solid minerals, spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with these enormous resources expected to drive sustained construction, power generation, and manufacturing, the menace of
Illegal mining in the country costs an estimated, whopping $9 billion annually in lost revenue.
Furthermore, illegal mining severely degrades the green environment, and directly fuels the recurring insecurity. This crisis is characterized by three main threats such as Insecurity and banditry: Illicit extraction—particularly of gold, lithium, and tin. These are intertwined with armed conflict, banditry, and militia groups that use the proceeds to fund their operations.
So serious the matter is that the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke recently raised the alarm over an unregulated influx of individuals from northern states into Osun’s mining communities. He warned that these movements risk importing banditry and terrorism financing.
That informed the establishment of
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