Nigeria Cracks Down On Illegal Lithium Mining Operations

A woman works at an Illegal tin mining site in Jos, Nigeria, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The recent arrests come as Nigeria seeks to regulate mining of critical minerals, curb illegal activity and bette

Nigeria's government has intensified efforts to combat illegal mining activities in the country, particularly focusing on the theft of lithium, a critical mineral essential for electric vehicles, smartphones, and power systems. The crackdown has resulted in numerous arrests of unlicensed miners since April, aiming to regulate the mining sector, curb illicit practices, and maximize the country's mineral resources.

The surge in global demand for lithium, tin, and other minerals due to the clean energy transition has led to a proliferation of illegal mines in Nigeria. Corruption among regulatory officials and the remote locations of mineral deposits have facilitated these illicit activities, with profits from illegal mining reportedly funding militia groups in the northern region.

In a recent operation in Oyo State, 32 individuals, including two Chinese nationals, were apprehended in a raid on a market known for trading illicitly mined lithium. The community raised concerns about the security risks associated with illegal mining, prompting the intervention by law enforcement.

Global demand for lithium and other minerals has led to a rise in illegal mining.

Efforts to combat illegal mining in Nigeria intensified, focusing on lithium theft.

Corruption and remote locations facilitate illicit mining activities in Nigeria.

Recent arrests, including Chinese nationals, highlight challenges in the mining sector.

China's significant presence in Nigeria's mining industry, particularly in the electric vehicle supply chain, has drawn attention to environmentally harmful practices, exploitative labor, and illegal mining activities involving Chinese nationals. President Bola Tinubu has highlighted the link between illegal mining and escalating conflicts in the country's north, urging international cooperation to address the issue.

To combat resource theft and revenue losses estimated at $9 billion annually, Nigeria established a 2,200-strong corps of mining marshals earlier this year. Recent arrests of individuals involved in illegal mining operations, including Chinese nationals, underscore the challenges posed by illicit activities in the country's extractive sector.

The government is also working to formalize artisanal mining in communities dependent on mining for livelihoods, encouraging legal operations through cooperative structures. Despite longstanding neglect of the solid minerals sector, efforts are underway to regulate mining activities, enhance transparency, and prevent further exploitation of mineral resources in Nigeria.