Minister of Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has disclosed that foreign nationals arrested for illegal mining activities and suspected terrorism links have been transferred to the Office of the National Security Adviser for further investigation.
Alake made the disclosure on Friday while responding to questions from Channels Television during an event held in Abuja.
The minister was reacting to allegations raised by some United States lawmakers linking illegal Chinese mining activities in Nigeria to the financing of terrorism.
Although Alake did not reveal the exact number of foreign nationals handed over to the NSA’s office, he stated that more than 327 individuals, including foreign nationals, had been arrested over illegal mining operations across the country.
According to him, approximately 142 suspects are currently undergoing prosecution, while about 3,000 mining licences have been revoked as part of ongoing reforms in the sector.
The minister attributed the developments to reforms introduced under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He said the transformation efforts had contributed to a significant increase in revenue generation within the solid minerals sector, rising from ₦6 billion in 2023 to more than ₦70 billion by December 2025.
Alake maintained that the reforms initiated by the Tinubu administration would help tackle longstanding challenges including corruption and institutional weaknesses in Nigeria.
Addressing stakeholders and operators in the mining industry, the minister urged sector players to adopt responsible practices and demonstrate social responsibility in order to sustain growth in the industry.
He also emphasised the need for a stronger ethical culture within the mining sector to support national development goals.
The issue of illegal mining has increasingly drawn attention from Nigerian authorities and regional bodies due to its alleged links to insecurity and organised criminal activity.
In late 2025, President Tinubu warned that the continued exploitation and smuggling of mineral resources posed a threat to regional stability in West Africa.
Represented at the time by George Akume during the Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, the president called for resource theft and illegal mining to be treated as international crimes.
“I believe the time has come for us to designate resource theft, mining, and stealing of minerals in the region as an international crime that threatens regional stability and galvanise the world against threats from stolen minerals from West Africa,” Tinubu said through his representative.
