House of Representatives, through its Ad-hoc Committee on illegal mining, has pledged to recover the $9 billion Nigeria loses annually to illicit mining. Committee Chairman, Sanni Abdulraheem, stressed that illegal mining drains the economy, fuels insecurity, degrades the environment, and displaces communities.
The committee’s mandate includes blocking revenue leakages, enforcing transparency, and ensuring Nigeria’s mineral resources support national development. Citizens were urged to expose illegal miners, while the parliament vowed to deal decisively with offenders.
Since the launch of Mining Marshals in 2024, over 500 illegal miners have been arrested, with 270 facing trial, and 98 illegal sites shut down nationwide.
On the Ajaokuta Steel Company, Abdulraheem said the Tinubu administration has shown strong political will for its revival, appointing an indigenous professional to lead the project, which is seen as key to industrialisation, job creation, and long-term growth.
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