The federal government has issued a stern warning to mining companies defaulting on their Community Development Agreements (CDAs), with the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development compiling a list of such offenders that may lead to the revocation of their mining titles.
This warning was given by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, during the 2026 Ministerial Retreat organised by the ministry in Abuja.
According to him, ‘If companies give effect to these community agreements and there is corporate social responsibility to transfer the natural state to the community, the host communities too will feel obliged to ensure peaceful environment to that company so that they can thrive.’
He praised the mining marshals for injecting sanity into the sector, adding that innovative and unconventional strategies were required to completely stamp out insecurity.
The minister, however, assured participants that plans were underway to further train the mining marshals, and he urged them to brainstorm ways to help the ministry excel in its operations.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Sen. Sampson Ekang, assured that the National Assembly will support the sector as a major pillar for Nigeria’s economic diversification, industrialisation, job creation and national development.
Earlier, the chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Rep. Jonathan Gaza, commended the teamwork displayed by the ministry’s staff in achieving good results.
He called on the executive arm of government to please treat matters in the sector with the priority they deserve.
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