In a decisive step to boost Nigeria’s revenue generation and protect natural resources, the Federal Government has expanded the mandate of the National Economic Council’s (NEC) Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control to also combat illegal mining and the theft of solid minerals across the country.
The decision was one of the key resolutions of the 152nd meeting of the Council, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, under the chairmanship of Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The session, attended by President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other top government officials, also approved a comprehensive roadmap toward achieving a $1 trillion Nigerian economy by 2030.
Expanding the Committee’s Mandate to Address Illegal Mining
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the NEC Ad-Hoc Committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said the expansion of the committee’s terms of reference was driven by the urgent need to plug revenue leakages and stop the unregulated extraction of solid minerals.
He explained that Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, long plagued by illegal mining, has cost the country billions in lost revenue.
“Our solid minerals are being mined and stolen without contributing to the national purse,” Uzodinma said.
“NEC received our interim report with satisfaction and decided that we must take decisive steps to secure these resources just as we have done with crude oil.”
Progress in Crude Oil Theft Prevention
Uzodinma highlighted the committee’s success in tackling oil theft since its formation in 2023, noting that Nigeria’s crude oil production had risen from between 700,000 and 800,000 barrels per day before May 2023 to over 1.7 million barrels per day as of October 2025.
He credited this progress to coordinated efforts among regulators, security agencies such as the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and state governments.
“The same collaborative approach will now be applied to eliminate illegal mining operations, ensuring that every tonne of mineral extracted benefits the Nigerian people,” he added.
Combating Solid Minerals Theft Under a Unified Framework
Under the new directive, the NEC committee will partner with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, security agencies, and relevant state authorities to strengthen surveillance in mining zones and enforce compliance with mining laws.
Governor Uzodinma said, “We are committed to ensuring that revenue from gold, lithium, and other valuable resources is properly accounted for.
The committee will intensify monitoring efforts and clamp down on criminal networks involved in mineral smuggling and illegal exportation.”
He also revealed that the Nigerian Navy and other maritime agencies will enhance coastal surveillance to prevent illegal exports through unauthorized ports, while community-based intelligence networks will be activated in mining regions to detect and report suspicious activities.
A Pathway to Economic Growth and Security
During the meeting, the NEC endorsed President Tinubu’s proposal for a nationwide overhaul of training institutions for security agencies.
The move, officials say, will strengthen the operational capacity of law enforcement agencies involved in tackling illegal mining and other economic crimes.
The President emphasized that reforming the country’s security training institutions was key to ensuring professionalism, discipline, and technological readiness.
“We must fix our training infrastructure to enable our security personnel to effectively confront emerging threats,” Tinubu said.
A committee chaired by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah was constituted to develop a one-month blueprint for rehabilitating security training centres nationwide.
The committee includes Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), with former Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba serving as secretary.
Vice President Shettima: Turning Vision Into Reality
Vice President Shettima urged governors to ensure that government policies translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
“The measure of governance is not in speeches delivered but in the lives improved,” he stated.
He praised the committee’s success in combating oil theft and expressed confidence that similar determination would yield results in ending illegal mining and mineral theft.
“Our goal is not only to secure our natural resources but to ensure that Nigerians benefit directly from them,” Shettima added.
Toward a $1 Trillion Economy by 2030
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, presented a comprehensive economic roadmap detailing strategies to strengthen national development through security, infrastructure, and macroeconomic reforms.
Bagudu explained that the roadmap aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030, emphasizing that economic stability depends on safeguarding Nigeria’s natural resources and eliminating the menace of illegal mining.
He said, “This administration recognizes that sustainable growth requires not just reforming our financial systems but protecting our resource base. Every barrel of oil and every kilogram of mineral must count.”
Bagudu’s proposal included six key resolutions, notably enhanced cooperation on infrastructure and security funding, regular economic briefings to NEC, and continued implementation of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund.
Accountability and Transparency in Resource Management
In a related update, Oyo State Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal presented the latest national financial balances, disclosing that as of October 23, 2025, the Excess Crude Account stood at $535,823.39, the Stabilization Account at ₦87.6 billion, and the Natural Resources Account at ₦141.5 billion.
Lawal emphasized that maintaining fiscal transparency and proper resource accounting are central to Nigeria’s economic recovery efforts, particularly as the government intensifies the fight against illegal mining and crude oil theft.
With the NEC’s renewed commitment, analysts believe Nigeria is taking a bold step toward ending decades of unregulated mineral extraction.
The integration of security, governance, and economic reforms under the new framework positions the country to reclaim lost revenues, create jobs, and strengthen local economies.
As the federal government intensifies efforts to stop illegal mining, stakeholders agree that accountability, technology-driven enforcement, and collaboration with host communities will be critical to sustaining progress.
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