Author: Shittu Fowora

Murdoch University has welcomed a delegation of Nigerian public officials, led by the Minister for Solid Minerals, Dr Henry Dele Alake, for a two-week intensive program centred on knowledge exchange and capacity building in the mining sector. The visit commenced with a traditional Smoking Ceremony performed by Alton Walley, marking the delegation’s arrival and symbolising a respectful welcome to Country. Following the ceremony, delegates met with senior University leadership to kick off the program, which runs until June 15. Supported by the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, the program is one…

The Edo State Ministry of Mining has conducted a comprehensive training and orientation programme for members of its newly inaugurated Taskforce, equipping them with essential knowledge and skills to ensure compliance with mining regulations across the state. The training featured resource persons from both the Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Development and the Edo State Ministry of Mining. Topics covered included mining sector laws, safety protocols mandated by the government, mining operations knowledge, and other regulatory frameworks relevant to the sector. Speaking at the event, the Edo State Commissioner for Mining, Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, said the training was designed to…

The federal government will commission a new lithium processing plant during the 4th edition of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS), scheduled to take place from July 14 to 17, 2025, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. In a statement released on Monday, Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, announced that the summit will be held under the theme: ‘Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development’. According to Tomori, AFNIS 2025, regarded as Africa’s premier platform for unlocking the continent’s vast resource potential, “will bring together…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, has successfully dismantled a well-organised illegal sand mining operation at Omambala River in Ifite-Ogwari, Ayamelum Local Government Area. The raid, carried out by the command’s Mines and Steel Development Unit (MSD) in collaboration with the newly deployed Federal Mines Officer in Anambra, Engr. Edet Anthony Oku, was based on credible intelligence. This was disclosed by Commandant Maku Olatunde, the NSCDC Anambra State Commandant, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Awka on Sunday, June 1, 2025. “On Friday, May 30, 2025, at about 13:05 hours, the command…

Leading industry figures in a thought-provoking virtual session have emphasised the urgent need for innovative financial instruments to bridge the funding gap in early-stage mining in Africa. The session which was hosted during the African Development Bank’s Annual Meetings 2025 had key submissions on domestic financing among other themes. Tim Tokun, Managing Partner of Motimose Metals, reflected on his extensive career in mining and resource development across four continents, saying, “From greenfield exploration to sustainable production, the African funding model remains largely inadequate for junior miners and indigenous firms.” Panelist Adeniran Aderogba, President of the Regional Maritime Development Bank, agreed,…

In a decisive effort to safeguard community health and environmental standards, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), through its Special Mining Marshals, has dismantled a major illegal mining network in the Odagbo-Okaba axis of Ankpa Local Government Area, Kogi State. The enforcement operation, spearheaded by Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, led to the arrest of 17 individuals, the impoundment of three trucks, and the confiscation of 39 motorcycles used in the unlawful mining activities. This action follows repeated complaints from residents about the environmental damage and health hazards associated with unchecked mining in the area.…

The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has sounded the alarm on what it described as a “silent emergency” — the destructive effects of mining activities on the original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Speaking at the launch of a two-year MacArthur Foundation-supported project in Abuja on Tuesday, CHRICED’s Executive Director, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said that mining continues to threaten livelihoods, displace communities, and deepen systemic exclusion in Nigeria’s capital. “Mining operations have further exacerbated their suffering,” Zikirullahi stated. “While Nigeria’s mining laws mandate Community Development Agreements (CDAs), these have failed to protect the rights of…

The President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dele Ayanleke, has called on the Nigerian government to match its numerous policies on mining with bold implementation, warning that without strong political will, the sector’s vast economic potential will remain untapped. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nigerian Mining, Ayanleke noted that while Nigeria has “robust policies on the ground,” the challenge lies in executing them. “We shouldn’t talk of change until we start implementing those reforms and observe some challenges along the way. We have good reform plans and good policies in place. The only thing we lack is…

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, on Friday, May 16, 2025, held a strategic engagement meeting with Mr. Colin Ikin, the Managing Director of Atlantic Mining Techniques Limited. The high-level discussion focused on unlocking the vast potential of Kaduna State’s mining sector. A key highlight of the meeting was the company’s proposed $300 million investment in the state’s solid minerals industry, an initiative expected to significantly boost economic activities and create jobs for the people of Kaduna. Governor Sani reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing a secure, investor-friendly environment. He said, “Kaduna State remains open and welcoming to both local and…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared Nigeria’s electronic Mining Cadastre Plus (eMC+) platform a benchmark for transparency and digital integration in the extractive sector. On Friday, a delegation of ECOWAS technical experts visited the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) in Abuja, where they described the web-based mineral-title system as “an exemplary system” worthy of replication across West Africa. Leader of the mission and regional mining-systems coordinator, William Badieo, praised Nigeria’s progress in digitising licence administration: “Nigeria is far ahead. What we witnessed is a practical demonstration of a fully functional, transparent, and accessible digital system.” Badieo said…

The Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) have pledged to collaborate more closely to ensure that only duly registered mining companies that comply with statutory obligations, including the filing of annual returns, continue to operate in the sector. This resolution was reached during a courtesy visit by the CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), to the Director General of MCO, Engr. Obadiah S. Nkom, at the Cadastre Office headquarters in Abuja. Welcoming the delegation, Engr. Nkom expressed appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed MCO’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration. He pledged the agency’s readiness to…

The Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) has announced a first-quarter revenue of ₦6.95 billion for 2025, attributing the impressive figure to a sweeping digital overhaul and a firm stance on transparency and accountability. In an interview with journalists in Abuja, the Director General of the MCO, Engr. Obadiah Simon-Nkom, credited the surge in revenue to the successful deployment of the EMC+ platform—a fully digitised, end-to-end system for mineral title applications introduced in November 2022. “This is our only submission channel—completely online, transparent, efficient, and real-time,” said Simon-Nkom. He explained that this transformation has not only enhanced the ease of doing…

Speakers at the National Stakeholders’ Retreat and Board Meeting of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), held on Wednesday in Umuahia, Abia State have called for energy transition focus in extractive sector to ensure a low-carbon future for the country.   Governor Alex Otti equally called on stakeholders in Nigeria’s extractive industry to prioritise energy transition in the exploration and utilisation of the country’s mineral resources. The governor stressed the need to align the nation’s resource governance with emerging global energy dynamics. According to a statement by his spokesperson, Ukoha Njoku, Otti urged NEITI to embrace systems that reflect…

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) is taking steps to enhance Nigeria’s mining industry, particularly through its initiatives in Kwara State. This was revealed by Mrs. Lydia Adewumi, State Coordinator of the Kwara RMRDC Office, during an industrial visit to Er-Kang Mining Company—a lithium processing firm located in the state—on May 2, 2025. During the visit, Mr. Me, Head of Administration at Er-Kang Mining Company, briefed the RMRDC team on the company’s operations. “The company was established in Nigeria in 2022, focusing on lithium processing and the production of concentrate powder for export,” he explained. He added that…

The Investment Promotion and Mineral Trade (IPMT) Department of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has organised stakeholder sensitisation sessions in Osogbo, Osun State, and Kaduna, Kaduna State, aimed at deepening awareness and engagement within the solid minerals sector. The sessions, which brought together key players in the mining industry, were designed to promote policy advocacy, foster inclusive dialogue, and highlight opportunities for investment and growth in Nigeria’s solid minerals value chain. According to the IPMT Department, the sensitisation forums are part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to promote transparency, improve investor confidence, and support sustainable development across mineral-rich regions.…