Digital Identity Will Boost Efforts Against Illegal Mining – Minister

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, said without a credible digital identity system, Nigeria cannot effectively combat illegal mining or improve governance.

Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Lara Owoeye-Wise, said Alake made the remarks when he received the Director-General of NIMC, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, in Abuja, describing technology, data and digital identity as indispensable tools for planning, regulation, investment and national security.

“Without identification we cannot trace, we cannot track and insecurity will flourish. Effective monitoring of both legal and illegal operations in the solid minerals sector is necessary. “A credible identity ecosystem will help to improve regulation, improve enforcement and support our efforts to sanitise the sector,” he said.

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The minister said NIMC is key to Nigeria’s development, adding that closer collaboration between the commission and the ministry would enhance transparency, accountability, regulatory oversight, licensing and evidence-based policymaking in the mining sector.

Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC Director-General, said the newly passed NIMC Act 2026 provides a stronger legal framework for digital governance and opens opportunities for deeper collaboration with the ministry.

The digital identity integration in the solid minerals sector, she said, will lead to better database integration, regulatory compliance, monitoring of operators, security, law enforcement and the implementation of Community Development Agreements in mining host communities.

Both organisations promised to foster deeper collaboration on technology-driven initiatives to support ongoing reforms, strengthen governance, enhance security and promote sustainable development in Nigeria’s mining sector.