What is illegal mining? Causes, risks and solutions in Nigeria

Nigeria’s solid minerals sector presents a bittersweet history for the country and its people, particularly in northern Nigeria.

Mining has created wealth, jobs and economic opportunities for individuals and communities. In mineral-rich areas, it provided livelihoods and opened up new sources of income. At the same time, illegal mining activities have contributed to insecurity, environmental degradation, exploitation and social disorder in some communities.

Since 2023, Nigeria’s solid minerals sector has undergone significant reforms aimed at modernizing the sector, strengthening regulation and enforcement, attracting investment and shifting the country from exporting raw minerals to local processing and value addition.

There has also been growing interest in critical minerals, particularly lithium, along with efforts to formalize artisanal mining and improve government revenue from the sector.

Some reports state that revenues generated by the solid minerals sector increased from around ₦16 billion in 2023 to ₦38 billion in 2024 and from around ₦68.1 billion to over ₦70 billion in 2025.

The Niger state tragedy, in which 37 young people lost their lives, has been linked to illegal mining, negligence of the authorities and lack of professionalism on the part of some Civil Defense officials

Illegal mining is the exploration, extraction, processing or trading of mineral resources without the licenses, permits or regulatory approvals required by law, or in violation of the conditions governing such activities.

Nigeria has an established legal and regulatory framework for mining, primarily under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007, together with subsequent legislation governing the sector. The Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which came into force on 1 January 2026, also introduced changes affecting mining taxation and mineral royalties.

Therefore, not all people found near a mining site are necessarily illegal miners. Important questions include: Who holds the mineral title? Is the operation authorized correctly? Do miners operate within the approved area and conditions? Are required royalties, taxes and fees paid? And are environmental and safety requirements respected?

Despite improvements in regulation, modernization and enforcement, illegal mining, insecurity and environmental degradation remain interconnected challenges in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

The problem is not simply the absence of laws. Nigeria already has extensive mining legislation and regulatory institutions. Rather, poverty, unemployment, weak enforcement capacity, informal economic activity, insecurity, and limited government presence in some remote areas can create conditions in which illegal mining thrives.

This is particularly important in rural communities where artisanal mining can provide a livelihood for families with few alternative sources of income.

The challenge for Nigeria, therefore, is not simply to stop illegal mining, but to introduce legitimate artisanal miners into the formal economy, enforce the law against criminal mining operations, protect host communities and the environment, improve security around mining areas, and ensure that Nigeria’s mineral wealth translates into sustainable development.

Nigeria is richly endowed with solid minerals. The ultimate goal should be to ensure that underground wealth becomes above-ground prosperity, legally, safely and sustainably.

,Zayyad I. Muhammad

Abuja, 08036070980, [email protected]