Koko Maxwella 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s House of Representatives has launched an ad hoc committee to halt illegal mining and recover the estimated $9 billion lost annually to unregulated mineral activities.
Committee chairman, Sanni Abdulraheem, on Thursday said illegal mining poses a grave threat to national security, economy, and environment. “Nigeria loses nearly $9 billion every year to illegal mining,” he said. “We must plug leakages and ensure that our mineral wealth benefits every citizen.”
Abdulraheem added that the committee will conduct thorough investigations and track revenue channels to strengthen transparency in the sector. “Our oversight duty is clear — to expose corruption and close loopholes draining national income,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for revitalising the Ajaokuta Steel Company, calling it “a step toward industrial revival and job creation.”
Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC Attah John Onoja, said over 500 illegal miners have been arrested since March 2024. “We have 270 prosecutions ongoing and fresh convictions secured,” he confirmed.
He assured full cooperation with the House committee, stressing that the NSCDC “is committed to ending illicit mining and protecting national assets.”
The committee’s intervention marks a renewed push for accountability, environmental protection, and economic recovery in Nigeria’s mineral sector.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Korede Abdullah 
