{
  "id": 9468553,
  "title": "NIGERIA AND THE CHALLENGE OF MINING",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/nigeria-and-the-challenge-of-mining",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-24T02:16:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/24/nigeria-and-the-challenge-of-mining/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigeria faces a complex challenge with its solid minerals sector, which offers both opportunities and risks. On one hand, mining has generated wealth, employment and economic benefits for local communities, particularly in Northern Nigeria. On the other hand, illegal mining activities have led to insecurity, environmental damage, exploitation and social disorder in some regions.\n\nRecent reforms aim to modernize the industry, strengthen regulation, attract investment and move away from exporting raw minerals to local processing and value addition. There is also growing interest in critical minerals like lithium, along with efforts to formalize artisanal mining and boost government revenue.\n\nHowever, illegal mining persists despite reforms. It involves extracting minerals without proper licenses, permits or regulatory approvals. Revenue from the sector rose from about ₦16 billion in 2023 to ₦38 billion in 2024 and ₦68.1 billion in 2025, reaching over ₦70 billion in 2025.\n\nThe Niger state tragedy that killed 37 young people is linked to illegal mining, official negligence and unprofessionalism. Illegal mining is defined as exploration, extraction, processing or trading of minerals without required licenses, permits or regulatory approvals.\n\nNigeria has a legal framework for mining under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007, with subsequent legislation. The newly enacted Nigeria Tax Act 2025, effective January 1, 2026, impacts mining taxation and mineral royalties.\n\nIllegal mining thrives due to poverty, unemployment, weak enforcement, informal economic activity, insecurity and limited government presence in remote areas. The challenge is not just stopping illegal mining, but integrating legitimate artisanal miners, enforcing the law against criminal operations, protecting communities and the environment, improving security, and ensuring mineral wealth translates into sustainable development.",
  "summary": "Nigeria’s solid minerals sector presents a bittersweet story for the country and its people, particularly in Northern Nigeria. Mining has created wealth, jobs and economic opportunities for individuals and communities.",
  "key_points": [
    "Nigeria's solid minerals sector offers wealth, jobs, but also insecurity and environmental damage.",
    "Illegal mining persists despite reforms, causing deaths and social disorder in some regions."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}