JUST-IN: Alake Boosts Personal Security After Death Threats Over Mining Reforms

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has said that he has been forced to triple his personal security following a wave of death threats from individuals and companies whose mining licences were revoked under the federal government’s renewed drive to enforce compliance in the sector.

Alake made the disclosure on Friday during a pre-event press briefing ahead of the 10th Nigeria Mining Week, scheduled to hold in Abuja from October 13 to 15, 2025. Themed “Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance,” the event will bring together policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders to evaluate reforms in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.

“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,” Alake said.

According to the minister, the threats became so frequent and serious that he was compelled to expand his armed security detail as a precautionary measure against possible attacks from powerful interests angered by the ministry’s strict enforcement of mining laws.

Alake noted that the crackdown on dormant and non-compliant licence holders had provoked resistance from influential operators who had “enjoyed years of impunity” before his tenure.

“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.”

The minister disclosed that 3,794 mining titles had been revoked under his leadership, including a fresh cancellation of 1,263 mineral licences within the last two years, as part of the government’s effort to restore transparency and discipline in the sector.

However, the move to triple his security detail reportedly runs contrary to President Bola Tinubu’s directive limiting ministers and senior officials to a maximum of five security personnel and three vehicles in their convoys, in line with the administration’s cost-cutting reforms.

Alake defended his actions, insisting that the reforms were necessary to sanitise the mining industry and ensure that only responsible investors operate in Nigeria’s solid minerals space.

“We came in and started enforcing the regulations that had always existed but were ignored for years. Many held licences for over a decade, doing nothing and failing to pay their annual service fees. That kind of impunity cannot continue under our watch.”

He added that the ministry had invoked the “use it or lose it” clause contained in all mining titles, a provision he likened to land ownership rules.

“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 thing within the mining sector.”

Alake accused some affected companies of resorting to blackmail, sponsored media attacks, and even threats of international arbitration, despite their failure to comply with local laws.

“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,” he said.

Describing the threats and smear campaigns as the “price of reform,” Alake vowed that his ministry would not back down.

“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.”

Despite the tough stance, the minister reiterated that the government remains open to genuine investors and would continue to promote a transparent environment for responsible mining.

“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.”

Alake said the Mining Cadastre Office had been directed to ensure strict compliance with all statutory obligations going forward, stressing that the administration’s goal is to make Nigeria’s mining sector globally competitive and sustainable.