FG Partners NIMC to Track Illegal Miners, Deepen Digital Governance

The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to curb illegal mining and strengthen governance in the solid minerals sector through a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the Director-General of NIMC, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote and her management team during a courtesy visit.

Alake described NIMC as a critical institution in Nigeria's development architecture, stressing that a credible digital identity system has become indispensable for effective governance, national security and economic planning.

He said the Federal Government's ongoing reforms in the mining sector require stronger collaboration with agencies such as NIMC to improve transparency, accountability and regulatory oversight.

According to the minister, integrating digital identity into mining operations will enable government agencies to effectively identify, trace and monitor operators across the value chain, particularly those involved in illegal mining.

"Without identification, we cannot trace; we cannot track and insecurity will flourish. In the solid minerals sector, we need effective tracking of both legal and illegal operations. A credible identity ecosystem will strengthen regulation, improve enforcement and support our efforts to sanitise the sector," Alake said.

He identified technology, reliable data, statistics and digital identity as essential tools for evidence-based policymaking, efficient licensing, investment promotion and the sustainable development of Nigeria's mineral resources.

Earlier, NIMC Director-General, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the recently enacted NIMC Act 2026 has laid the foundation for a more robust digital governance ecosystem across the country.

She noted that integrating identity management into the solid minerals sector would improve database integration among government agencies, strengthen regulatory compliance, enhance security, improve monitoring of mining operators and support the implementation of Community Development Agreements (CDAs) in host communities.

Coker-Odusote added that NIMC's digital identity infrastructure would help government institutions build more reliable databases, improve public service delivery and promote greater transparency and accountability.

Both agencies pledged to deepen collaboration through technology-driven initiatives aimed at strengthening reforms in the mining sector, improving security and advancing sustainable development.

The meeting also highlighted the significance of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, which provides a stronger legal framework for secure identity verification, inter-agency data integration, improved public service delivery and the growth of Nigeria's digital economy.

Under the new legal framework, every eligible Nigerian and legal resident is expected to have a trusted digital identity, a move the government believes will accelerate technology-driven governance and strengthen oversight across key sectors, including mining.