Nigeria’s solid minerals sector is recording significant gains under a series of reforms being implemented by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, with increased revenue, tighter regulation, investment attraction and stronger enforcement emerging as major highlights of the ongoing transformation.
The reforms are aimed at repositioning the sector as a major contributor to Nigeria’s economy while tackling long-standing challenges, including illegal mining, weak regulatory compliance, dormant mining titles and limited local value addition.
One of the most notable outcomes has been the reported growth in revenue generated from the sector, which rose from ₦6 billion in 2023 to ₦68 billion in 2025.
Mining licence revenue also increased from ₦6 billion in 2023 to ₦12.58 billion in 2024, while mining royalties recorded a reported 110 per cent increase to approximately ₦36.8 billion.
The revenue growth has been linked to stronger regulation and efforts to sanitise the mining industry, ensuring that operators comply with licensing requirements and that government derives greater value from the exploitation of the country’s mineral resources.
The reform programme has also attracted significant investment into the sector, with more than $1 billion in investments reportedly secured within two years through policy reforms, incentives and measures promoting value addition.
A major pillar of the regulatory drive has been the strengthening of enforcement against illegal mining through the Mining Marshals, deployed in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Under the operational leadership of ACC Attah John Onoja, Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, a total of 2,570 Mining Marshals have been trained and deployed to mining communities and strategic locations across the country to tackle illegal mining, secure mining sites and support the enforcement of mining regulations.
The Mining Marshals have reportedly arrested more than 300 illegal miners, leading to prosecutions and convictions in several cases, including those involving foreign nationals. Their operations have become a major component of the Federal Government’s effort to curb illegal mining and strengthen compliance across the sector.
Beyond enforcement, the ministry has also intensified the sanitisation of the mining licensing system. Thousands of mineral titles and licences have reportedly been revoked as part of efforts to eliminate dormant and non-compliant operators and create a more credible environment for legitimate investors.
Among the reported revocations are 584 exploration licences, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licences and 470 small-scale mining leases, with the wider exercise taking the number of revoked titles to more than 4,000.
The government has simultaneously pursued the formalisation of artisanal mining activities, with more than 300 artisanal mining cooperatives reportedly created and formalised nationwide.
The initiative is designed to bring informal miners into the regulated economy while improving oversight, safety standards and responsible mining practices.
Another major development is the facilitation of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Company (NSMC), conceived to promote joint ventures, attract investment and drive the structured commercialisation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
The company is expected to support a more organised approach to the development of the country’s mineral assets while encouraging greater participation by investors in the sector.
The ministry has also placed considerable emphasis on technology and geological information, recognising that reliable geological data is critical to attracting serious investors.
Under the reform programme, the ministry has advanced its digitisation agenda, including the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision Support System and geological mapping initiatives.
The government has also highlighted a ₦1 trillion allocation for mineral exploration, aimed at generating internationally certified geological data and providing investors with better information about the country’s mineral deposits.
Nigeria’s role in the wider African mining landscape has equally expanded under Alake. He was elected the pioneer Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) by African mining ministers in January 2024, positioning Nigeria at the centre of continental discussions on sustainable mining, beneficiation and resource management.
The reforms come at a time when Nigeria is seeking to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on crude oil revenue.
With its vast deposits of gold, lithium, tin, iron ore, tantalite and other strategic minerals, the country possessed significant potential to develop a mining industry capable of generating revenue, creating jobs and supporting industrial growth.
For the sector, the focus now extended beyond extracting minerals to building a more regulated, investment-friendly and value-driven industry.
The reported increase in revenue, licensing receipts and royalties, alongside investment inflows, stronger enforcement and the formalisation of artisanal mining, represents the emerging impact of the government’s efforts to reposition solid minerals as a more significant component of Nigeria’s economic development strategy.
