Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed this during the South-West Stakeholders’ Dialogue organised by Afenifere, in collaboration with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and South-West governors.
Speaking at the two-day summit themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future,” Alake said the recoveries formed part of the federal government’s ongoing drive to sanitise the solid minerals sector and promote sustainable development.
“Over 90 mining sites have been recovered, and over 300 illegal miners have been arrested. About 50 of them are being prosecuted, while more than 20 have already been convicted since the inception of the present administration,” the minister said.
He added that the government, through collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), had established Mining Marshals to secure mining areas and curb illegal operations.
According to him, the ministry’s policies now prioritise local value addition to minerals, warning that the export of raw minerals would no longer be tolerated.
“Our policy direction is clear — minerals should not leave Nigeria in their raw form. They must undergo local processing to ensure job creation and economic growth through value chain development,” Alake emphasised.
He also cautioned traditional rulers against colluding with illegal miners for financial gains, stressing that such actions undermine national interests. “The future of the country must not be traded for short-term benefits,” he said.
Alake noted that the ₦28 billion generated in 2024 demonstrates the impact of the government’s reforms and improved oversight within the sector. “The ministry over-performed on its budgetary target in 2024,” he added.
Adeleke Accuses APC Federal Appointees of Interference in Osun Politics
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, accused federal appointees of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the state of attempting to hijack his administration ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
Speaking at the same event through his deputy, Kola Adewusi, Adeleke alleged that federal officials had been boasting of their power to deploy security agencies to intimidate state officials and manipulate political processes.
“The federal party officials boast of powers to deploy security apparatus to witch-hunt state officials. They have openly declared their readiness to hijack Osun, whether the people voted for them or not. Worse still, they enjoy security cover when making such provocative declarations,” Adeleke said.
He further claimed that some security agencies in the state had provided protection to party operatives acting outside the law. “In Osun, some security agencies openly protect and defend ruling party operatives even when they act in ways that violate the constitution,” he alleged.
The governor also condemned the seizure of Osun’s local government funds earlier in the year without a court order, accusing federal authorities of imposing sacked local government officials in defiance of court rulings.
“I cite these instances to highlight impunity and abuse of power as major obstacles to effective national and subnational collaboration,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Adeleke maintained that his administration remained committed to cooperative governance. “Osun State has consistently demonstrated readiness for productive partnerships. We have been active participants in federal peer reviews, and several agencies have recognised our positive governance records,” he noted.
The South-West dialogue brought together political leaders, policymakers, and civic groups to discuss democratic governance, regional development, and institutional accountability in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.