The Federal Government is not thinking of suspending mining activities in the north as suggested by leaders from the region.
Northern governors and traditional leaders had urged the Federal Government to halt mining for six months in the region as part of efforts to curb insecurity in the region.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Monday on however said a total shutdown of mining operations would have grave economic consequences for both the North and the country at large.
The minister’s position was conveyed through his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, who said the Federal Government had carefully weighed the security concerns against the economic realities of ongoing mining and mineral processing activities across the region.
He said, “The position of the Federal Government remains that there can’t be a blanket suspension of mining activities across the North because it will have far more adverse economic implications for the region and the nation.”
Alake added that several strategic industrial facilities rely directly on mining operations in the North.
“We have lithium plants that are operational in Nasarawa and the outskirts of Abuja; an iron processing plant in Kaduna, and a host of other mining activities that will be affected by a blanket ban. Even the cement factory in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, depends on mining of limestone,” Tomori said.
He added that following engagements with the Federal Government, northern governors had begun to reconsider their earlier advice on a total ban.
“So, based on these facts, I believe the northern governors have reconsidered their advisory on a blanket ban based on our engagement with them,” he said.
Instead of a wholesale suspension, the minister said the Federal Government was pursuing a targeted security approach aimed at flushing out criminal elements operating around mining sites.
According to him, this strategy is already being implemented through a multi-agency security operation coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, covering parts of the North-West, North-East and North-Central.
“What can work is to map out areas that are severely affected by bandit activities and rout the non-state actors. That is already being done through a multi-agency security operation coordinated by the NSA across the North-west, North-east and parts of the North-Central,” he said.
Tomori stressed that legitimate mining activities should not be punished for the actions of illegal operators.
He noted that consultations with state governments were ongoing, revealing that the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, met with the minister in January as part of the engagement process.
“There is no consideration for blanket suspension of all mining activities in the north. However, we are engaging with the Governors on how best to tackle the menace of insecurity fueled by illegal mining in some areas. The Nasarawa state Governor, Abdullahi Sule, met with the minister sometime in January as part of the consultations,” he said.
Responding categorically to demands by northern governors for a comprehensive audit and revalidation of mining licences, the minister confirmed that such a process was already being planned.
“We announced sometime last year that an audit of the entire sector is in the offing. Details are being worked out and are being kept under wraps until we are ready to announce its implementation,” he said.
To strengthen enforcement, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government was fast-tracking the deployment of satellite surveillance to monitor mining sites nationwide.
“We are fast-tracking the process for the installation of satellite surveillance of mining sites, among other measures, to bolster the capacity of the mining marshals for more effectiveness,” Tomori said.
He added that the Federal Government was working with international partners to improve security outcomes.
“The Federal Government will continue to do its best alongside its allies to ensure the security of the North and indeed the entire country. We can see improved security operations in hotbeds and recent collaboration with the US military in that regard,” he said.
In December 2025, the Northern Governors’ Forum, alongside other influential leaders, urged the Federal Government to suspend mining activities in the region for six months, arguing that illegal mining had become a major source of funding for banditry and other criminal activities.
This was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The call followed multiple school raids, violent attacks and kidnappings across mining communities, particularly in parts of Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna and Katsina states.
On November 17, 2025, armed men attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting 24 schoolgirls. The school’s vice-principal was killed during the attack. The students were freed a few days later.
Four days later, on November 21, gunmen invaded St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community, Agwara LGA of Niger State, abducting hundreds of pupils and staff.
Church and local officials later confirmed that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken away.
The escalating attacks prompted several states to order the temporary closure of schools in Kebbi, Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Niger, Katsina and Kwara states.
