The Federal Government has reclaimed more than 90 illegal mining sites across Nigeria, generating ₦28 billion in revenue from the solid minerals sector in 2024, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has announced.

The Ministry also reported that over 300 illegal miners have been arrested, with 50 facing prosecution and more than 20 already convicted. The recovered revenue exceeded the Ministry’s budgetary target for the year.

Minister Alake emphasized the government’s commitment to value addition in mining, urging that raw minerals should be processed within Nigeria to retain economic value and create jobs.

The initiative forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader economic diversification efforts, aiming to strengthen revenue generation, environmental protection, and sustainable mining practices.