The Federal Government recovered more than 90 mining sites from illegal operators and generated N28 billion in revenue in 2024, exceeding the ministry’s budgetary targets, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has revealed.
Alake made the announcement during the South-West stakeholders’ dialogue, organised by Afenifere in partnership with the DAWN Commission and South-West governors. The two-day summit, themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress. Charting the Future,” highlighted the government’s efforts to enforce lawful mining practices and promote sustainable development.
The minister noted, “Over 90 mining sites have been recovered, and more than 300 illegal miners arrested. Fifty of them have been prosecuted, and over 20 convicted since the inception of this administration.”
He added that, in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the ministry has established mining marshals to secure mining sites. “The Federal Government raked in N28 billion in revenue in 2024 from the ministry, surpassing the budgetary target for the year,” Alake stated.
Alake also emphasised that the administration’s mining policy mandates local processing of minerals before export to enhance value addition. He warned traditional rulers against colluding with illegal miners, stressing that the nation’s future should not be compromised for financial gain.
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke accused federal appointees from the All Progressives Congress of attempting to undermine his government ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
Represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, Adeleke claimed federal officials threatened to deploy security agencies to target state officials and seize local government funds. “Some security agencies openly protect ruling party operatives, even when they violate the law and constitution,” he said.
He further accused federal authorities of interfering with local government operations earlier this year, citing the forceful installation of officials contrary to court orders. Despite such challenges, Adeleke affirmed Osun State’s commitment to productive federal collaboration, noting the state’s positive record in governance has been acknowledged by several federal agencies.
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