The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, conveyed the government’s position in an exclusive interview with The Source on Monday in Abuja, through his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori. The federal position, he said, is rooted in a careful assessment of both security and economic imperatives.
“The position of the Federal Government remains that there can’t be a blanket suspension of mining activities across the North because it will have far more adverse economic implications for the region and the nation,” Tomori said.
Alake’s office stressed that mining forms a critical part of Nigeria’s economic diversification drive. Key industrial facilities—including lithium processing plants in Nasarawa, iron ore operations in Kaduna, and limestone supply chains for cement production—depend on continued mining output. A nationwide ban, the government argued, could disrupt these operations and weaken broader economic growth.
Rather than impose a wholesale shutdown, the Federal Government said it favours a targeted security approach, deploying multiagency operations coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser to flush out criminal elements operating around mining sites.
Alake’s office indicated that engagements with northern governors have led to a reconsideration of the earlier call for a blanket suspension, with consultations ongoing to refine collaborative security responses.
The government also confirmed plans to conduct a comprehensive audit and revalidation of mineral licences and is fast-tracking the installation of satellite surveillance technology to monitor mining sites, strengthen enforcement and curb illegal mining activities linked to criminal networks.
The call for a six-month mining suspension emerged from a December 2025 communique by the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, who argued that illegal mining had become a major source of financing for bandits and other non-state actors.
The governors had simultaneously proposed the creation of a regional security trust fund, with each of the 19 northern states and their local governments agreeing to contribute ₦1 billion monthly to strengthen security operations against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.
While proponents of the suspension maintain that shutting down unregulated mining could help crack down on illicit networks, stakeholders in the mining sector have criticised the proposal, warning that it could worsen unemployment and undermine economic stability without guaranteeing improved security outcomes.
Economic analysts say that reconciling security concerns with economic interests will require nuanced policy solutions—strengthening regulation, enforcement and community engagement rather than broad bans—to ensure that Nigeria’s solid minerals sector contributes to both security and growth.
Suspending mining activities entirely could push thousands of young people into unemployment. This poses serious risks to local security and weakens the domestic economy. Rather than a blanket suspension, the focus should be on reforming the sector, strengthening regulation, and improving oversight.