The National Economic Council says it would begin a crackdown on illegal gold miners as part of a broader strategy to safeguard Nigeria’s natural resources and boost government revenue.

The move follows the Council’s decision to expand the mandate of its Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, to include the fight against illegal mining and mineral smuggling.

Briefing State House correspondents after the 153rd NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Uzodinma said the expanded terms of reference reflect government’s resolve to close off revenue leakages from solid minerals.

He added that the committee would work closely with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and security agencies to curb gold smuggling, unregulated quarrying, and illicit mineral exports.

The ad-hoc committee was originally established under former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2022 to combat crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism that had crippled national production and forced international oil companies to shut down key pipelines.

When President Bola Tinubu reconstituted the committee in December 2023, daily oil production had dropped to between 700,000 and 800,000 barrels per day, below the country’s OPEC quota, leading to major foreign exchange shortfalls.