The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, says Nigeria cannot effectively tackle illegal mining or strengthen governance without a credible digital identity system.
Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Lara Owoeye-Wise, said Alake made the remarks while receiving NIMC Director-General 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. 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,” he said.
The minister said NIMC plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s development, stressing that stronger collaboration between the commission and the ministry would improve transparency, accountability, regulatory oversight, licensing and evidence-based policymaking in the mining sector.
NIMC Director-General Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote said the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026 provides a stronger legal framework for digital governance and opens opportunities for deeper collaboration with the ministry.
She said integrating digital identity into the solid minerals sector would improve database integration, regulatory compliance, monitoring of operators, security, law enforcement and implementation of Community Development Agreements in mining host communities.
Both organisations pledged to deepen collaboration through technology-driven initiatives to support ongoing reforms, strengthen governance, enhance security and promote sustainable development in Nigeria’s mining sector.
