Abuja, Nigeria — August 2025
A mid-year sectoral report on Nigeria’s mining industry has issued a stark warning, stressing that the country’s vast mineral wealth could become a source of conflict, environmental destruction, and economic leakage if urgent reforms are not implemented.
The report, compiled by a coalition of mining researchers and policy analysts, notes that while Nigeria possesses an estimated 44 commercially viable minerals including lithium, gold, zinc, lead, manganese, columbite, and rare earth elements, the lack of coordinated governance, security, and sustainability frameworks threatens to turn opportunity into crisis.
Potential Risks Highlighted
According to the findings, three key risks loom over Nigeria’s mineral-rich regions:
-
Security Risks & Conflict Zones
-
Artisanal and illegal mining activities have been linked to funding armed groups.
-
Communities hosting mineral resources face land disputes, armed clashes, and increased insecurity.
-
-
Environmental Degradation
-
Unregulated mining continues to cause deforestation, water pollution, and soil erosion.
-
Experts warn that Nigeria could face large-scale ecological collapse in mineral-producing states if no remedial measures are enforced.
-
-
Economic Leakage
-
Billions of dollars in potential revenue are lost annually through illegal exports, tax evasion, and smuggling of minerals.
-
Nigeria risks remaining a raw material exporter with little value addition, depriving its economy of industrial growth and job creation.
-
Call for Urgent Reforms
The report strongly urges the Federal Government to:
-
Strengthen mining laws and enforcement mechanisms against illegal operations.
-
Formalize artisanal miners to bring them into the regulated economy.
-
Invest in modern geological mapping and exploration data.
-
Ensure community participation to prevent resource-related conflicts.
-
Prioritize environmental sustainability to safeguard Nigeria’s ecosystems.
Experts Weigh In
Dr. Amina Yusuf, a mineral policy analyst, explained:
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Our mineral wealth could either be a blessing that drives industrialization or a curse that fuels conflict and instability. The difference will be made by policy action—or inaction.”
Outlook
With the global race for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earths accelerating, Nigeria’s strategic position is undeniable. However, experts caution that unless the nation urgently aligns mining governance with best international practices, its mineral wealth may attract more risks than rewards.
