The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, says he has tripled his personal security following a series of death threats from individuals and companies affected by the federal government’s ongoing mining sector reforms.
Speaking on Friday at a pre-event press briefing ahead of the 10th Nigeria Mining Week, scheduled for October 13–15, 2025, in Abuja, Alake said the threats intensified after his ministry revoked thousands of dormant and non-compliant mining licences as part of efforts to restore order and transparency in the sector.
“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,” the minister revealed.
According to Alake, the threats, which included intimidating messages and coordinated smear campaigns, were attempts to derail the ministry’s resolve to enforce existing laws and clean up the mining industry.
“They have employed all sorts of tactics — blackmail, sponsored media attacks, and even threats of violence — just to make us reverse our decisions. But I told them, you can go and study my antecedents. We are battle-hardened and we will not retreat,” he declared.
The minister noted that the crackdown had led to the revocation of 3,794 mining titles, including an additional 1,263 mineral licences withdrawn in the past two years for failure to comply with regulatory obligations such as payment of service fees and commencement of exploration activities.
Alake emphasized that the reforms were driven by the need to enforce the “use it or lose it” clause embedded in every mining licence — a global best practice that ensures titles are utilized productively.
“Anywhere in the world, if you’re given a certificate of occupancy or a mining title, you’re expected to develop it within a stipulated period or lose it. That’s the principle we’re applying here,” he said.
He accused some defaulting companies of resorting to threats of international arbitration despite years of non-compliance with Nigerian 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,” Alake added.
The minister, however, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a fair and transparent environment for legitimate investors.
“We are not against investors; we welcome genuine ones. But we cannot continue indulging defaulters who hold licences indefinitely and contribute nothing to the economy. From profitable investments come royalties, taxes, and growth,” he stated.
Alake’s decision to expand his security detail comes amid President Bola Tinubu’s directive limiting ministers to a maximum of five security personnel and three vehicles in their convoys — part of broader cost-cutting reforms across the federal government.
Describing the threats and resistance as the “price of reform,” Alake vowed to sustain the momentum of the cleanup exercise.
“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,” he said.
The 10th edition of the Nigeria Mining Week, themed “Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance,” will bring together policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders to evaluate progress and chart a sustainable path for the country’s solid minerals sector.
