EFCC Chairman vows crackdown on illegal mining in Nigeria

Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has pledged to intensify operations against illegal mining in Nigeria. Speaking at a conference in Ilorin, Kwara state, Olukoyede emphasized that the agency will target the financiers, mineral buyers, and compromised public officials who profit from the illicit exploitation of resources such as gold, lithium, tin, lead, and zinc.

Olukoyede stated that the enforcement strategy must move “from the pit to the purse,” focusing on dismantling the sophisticated local and international financial networks behind these criminal enterprises. He noted that while Nigeria possesses abundant mineral wealth, corruption and insecurity have prevented the country from maximizing its economic benefits.