The United States Mission in Nigeria has condemned illegal mining operations within the country, labelling them a threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and a driver of global corruption.
In a post shared on Tuesday via its official handle on X, the U.S. Mission highlighted the broader implications of illicit mining, stating: “Illicit mining threatens Nigeria’s economic future and fuels transnational corruption.”
It further stressed the need for transparency and oversight in the extractive sector: “Accountability in the extractives sector is essential to protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and ensuring a secure and transparent global supply chain, which is core to U.S. strategic interests,” the Mission added.
This statement was issued amidst growing attention on Nigeria’s mining sector and accompanied a link to a news report detailing the arraignment of two Chinese nationals accused of illegal dealings in mineral resources.
On June 4, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Zhang Hong Lin and Zhao Pei Hai before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
In a related development, the same Federal High Court in Ikoyi has convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year in prison each for offences related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The convicted individuals—LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng—were among the 792 suspects arrested during the EFCC’s December 2024 sting operation code-named ‘Eagle Flush Operation’.
They were arraigned separately in February 2025 on one-count charges each, all bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. According to an EFCC statement released on Tuesday, the defendants had initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
However, during court proceedings on Thursday, June 5, 2025, they changed their pleas to “guilty.” Following this development, EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, urged the court to convict and sentence them.
