The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has urged youths in Kogi State to engage their elders, traditional rulers, community leaders and local authorities to stop shielding illegal miners operating in their communities.
Alake made the appeal on Thursday while receiving members of Concerned Kogi Youths Against Environmental Degradation, who protested at the ministry in Abuja over alleged environmental damage caused by illegal mining activities in the state.
The minister commended the youths for drawing attention to the environmental consequences of illegal mining and assured them that the Federal Government was strengthening enforcement measures to tackle the menace.
He said the ministry was deploying technology and consolidating the operations of the Mining Marshals to intensify the campaign against illegal mining across the country.
According to Alake, Kogi State remains a major area of concern, recalling that one of the Mining Marshals’ early operations involved dislodging illegal miners from an area covered by Mining Licence 19325, belonging to North-South Extractive Industries in Yagba East Local Government Area.
The minister disclosed that between March 2024 and August 2026, the Mining Marshals identified 374 illegal mining sites across the country.
Of the sites identified, 108 have so far been cleared, while 743 suspects were arrested, he said.
Alake added that 165 cases involving 430 accused persons were currently being prosecuted, with five convictions secured so far.
He said investigations conducted by committees established by the ministry to examine complaints about illegal mining in Kogi had shown that many of the alleged illegal miners were indigenes of the affected communities.
The minister further claimed that some of the miners operated with the support of elders, traditional rulers and local government officials.
He urged Kogi youths to use their influence within their communities to persuade such stakeholders to allow enforcement agencies to carry out their duties without interference.
Alake warned that the government would continue to pursue illegal miners and their alleged collaborators, stressing that the administration was determined to protect Nigeria’s mineral resources and the environment.
He also accused illegal miners of undermining legitimate mining companies by exploiting mineral resources in areas covered by valid licences.
According to him, licensed mining companies pay for permits and royalties, while illegal operators extract mineral resources without making corresponding payments to government.
The minister said such activities not only deprive the country of revenue but also threaten legitimate investments in the mining sector.
The protest by the Kogi youths was focused particularly on alleged environmental degradation linked to mining activities in parts of Kogi East.
The group expressed concerns over the impact of mining on roads, farmland, water sources and the general living conditions of residents in affected communities.
The youths called for stronger investigations and enforcement measures against mining operators allegedly violating environmental and regulatory requirements.
Responding to their concerns, the ministry said it was also examining compliance by mining companies with their Community Development Agreements.
The ministry’s Director of Mining Environmental Compliance, Dr Vivian Okono, said steps were being taken to compile a list of mining companies allegedly defaulting on their obligations under the agreements.
The latest development underscores the Federal Government’s renewed effort to tackle illegal mining while addressing concerns over environmental degradation and the protection of legitimate mining investments.
Alake said the government would continue to combine enforcement, technology and community engagement in its campaign against illegal mining and warned that those involved would face prosecution.
