Minister Advocates Digital Identity System to Combat Illegal Mining
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, stated that without a credible digital identity system, Nigeria cannot effectively combat illegal mining or improve governance.
Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Lara Owoeye-Wise, said Alake made the remarks when he received the Director-General of NIMC, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, in Abuja, describing technology, data and digital identity as indispensable tools for planning, regulation, investment and national security.
“Without identification we cannot trace, we cannot track and insecurity will flourish. Monitoring of the legal and illegal activities in the solid minerals sector needs to be effective. “A credible identity ecosystem will help improve regulation, improve enforcement and support our efforts to sanitise the sector,” he said.
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The minister said NIMC is crucial for Nigeria’s development and that a closer collaboration between the commission and the ministry will improve transparency, accountability, regulatory oversight, licensing and evidence-based policymaking in the mining sector.
“Under the new NIMC Act 2026, we now have a more robust legal framework for digital governance and new avenues for collaboration with the ministry,” said Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC Director-General.
She said the solid minerals digital identity integration will improve database integration, regulatory compliance, monitoring of operators, security, law enforcement and the implementation of Community Development Agreements in mining host communities.
Both bodies pledged to deepen collaboration on technology-driven initiatives to support ongoing reforms, strengthen governance, improve security and promote sustainable development in Nigeria’s mining sector.
