By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering has invited the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake, and the Director-General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office.
The Committee, led by Hon. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem, expressed disappointment over the lack of cooperation from the Ministry and the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office. “Despite our friendly approach, they didn’t show much willingness to work with us,” Abdulraheem said.
The Committee has directed the Secretariat to write to the Minister and DG, summoning them to appear before the Committee. “We want to hear from them and get the necessary information to tackle illegal mining,” Abdulraheem explained.
The Committee is investigating the scale, patterns, and modalities of illegal mineral exploitation in Nigeria. They aim to identify the causes, consequences, and extent of associated revenue losses.
The Committee’s objectives include examining the operational roles of security agencies, assessing the legal and regulatory framework, and probing financial flows associated with illegal mining. “We want to block revenue leakages and enhance transparency in the mineral value chain,” Abdulraheem said.
The Committee plans to conduct public hearings and stakeholder engagements to gather evidence and build national consensus on measures to address illegal mining.
The Committee will submit a detailed report to the House, containing findings, conclusions, and actionable recommendations for legislative, policy, administrative, and security interventions.
The Committee’s mandate includes interfering with relevant agencies, assessing anti-money laundering measures, and recommending strategies to curb illicit financial flows. “Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s mineral resources contribute maximally to national development,” Abdulraheem emphasized.
