The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has disclosed that he was forced to triple his personal security after receiving multiple death threats from individuals and companies whose mining licences were revoked for violating government regulations.
Alake, who made the revelation during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, ahead of the 10th edition of the Nigeria Mining Week, said the threats came through text messages and direct intimidation attempts following the government’s renewed enforcement drive in the mining sector.
The Nigeria Mining Week, themed “Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance,” is scheduled to hold from October 13 to 15, 2025, bringing together policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders to evaluate the nation’s mining reforms and prospects.
‘I Had to Triple My Security’
Speaking to journalists, Alake said the threats became so serious that he had to increase the number of armed personnel attached to him as a precaution.
“In fact, I have had to triple my personal security because I’ve received several threats from those whose licences were revoked for one form of infraction or the other. One even sent me a text message threatening me directly,” he revealed.
The minister explained that the ministry’s decision to enforce long-neglected mining laws and revoke dormant licences had provoked backlash from powerful interests who had operated with impunity for years.
“They have employed all sorts of tactics to make us reverse these decisions. But I told them, you can go and study my antecedents. We didn’t dance into this office; we fought battles to get here. We are battle-hardened and we will not retreat,” he declared.
Alake said the intimidation came after the ministry revoked 3,794 mining titles and an additional 1,263 mineral licences within two years of his administration, as part of efforts to clean up the sector and ensure compliance.
He noted that several of the affected operators had neither paid their statutory service fees nor undertaken any exploration activities for over a decade.
“We came in and started enforcing regulations that had always existed but were ignored for years. Many held licences for over 10 years without paying annual service fees or carrying out any work. That kind of impunity cannot continue under our watch,” the minister stated.
He accused some companies of resorting to media blackmail, sponsored attacks, and threats of international arbitration after failing to meet local legal obligations.
“One company that hasn’t paid service fees for years is threatening international arbitration. I want to see the international judge who will rule in favour of a firm that violated our local laws,” Alake said.
The Price of Reform
Alake described the threats and smear campaigns as the price of reform, stressing that his ministry remained resolute in its mission to restore order, transparency, and accountability to Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
“The strengthening of these regulations has come with a price. But we are waging this battle on principle, not personality. We cannot continue doing things the same way and expect different results,” he maintained.
The minister added that the government had invoked the use-it-or-lose-it clause embedded in every mining title, a global standard similar to land development laws, to ensure active use of mineral licences.
“Anywhere in the world, when you are given a certificate of occupancy, you are expected to develop the land within a specified time or lose it. It’s the same principle here,” he said.
Naijaonpoint reports that Alake’s decision to expand his security detail, however, contrasts with President Bola Tinubu’s directive limiting ministers and top officials to no more than five security personnel and three vehicles in their convoys as part of cost-saving measures.
Although the minister did not address this directly, sources in the ministry confirmed that the threats were considered credible and potentially life-threatening, prompting the security enhancement.
We Welcome Genuine Investors
While reaffirming his commitment to enforcement, Alake assured that the government remained open to responsible investors who were ready to comply with local laws and contribute to national growth.
“We are not against investors; we welcome genuine ones. It is from profitable investments that the government can generate revenue through royalties, taxes, and service fees. But that doesn’t mean we’ll indulge defaulters who repeatedly flout the law,” he said.
The minister added that the Mining Cadastre Office had been directed to ensure strict compliance with all statutory obligations and to continue monitoring operators for adherence to the new standards.
Naijaonpoint reports that since assuming office, Alake has launched an aggressive campaign to sanitise Nigeria’s mining industry, long plagued by illegal operations, inactive licences, and revenue leakages.
His crackdown has, however, triggered resistance from vested interests, including politically connected operators and foreign firms who benefited from lax enforcement in previous administrations.
Despite mounting threats and backlash, Alake insisted that the reforms would continue unabated. “We have made progress, but we are not there yet. The road to restoring credibility in this sector will not be easy, but it is a fight we must win,” he concluded.
© 2025 Naijaonpoint, a division of NOP Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]