General
FG Arrests 300 Illegal Miners Across Nigeria
By Adedapo Adesanya
About 300 illegal miners across the country have been arrested by the federal government in a move to revitalise Nigeria’s mining sector, according to the MInsiter of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake.
He revealed this during a strategic briefing of the House Committee on Solid Minerals’ Oversight visit to the Ministry in Abuja on Thursday.
The visit saw the unveiling of a series of transformative strides aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s mining sector by Mr Alake.
With a clear focus on the comprehensive 7-point agenda, the minister emphasised the progress made in securing Nigeria’s mining operations, deterring illegal activities, and positioning the sector as a cornerstone of economic growth.
The statement read in part, “At the forefront of this transformation is a strengthened security framework designed to combat illegal mining—a longstanding challenge that has threatened both local communities and Nigeria’s global standing.
“Since deploying over 2,000 trained mine marshals, nearly 300 illegal operators, including foreign nationals, have been apprehended, significantly reducing unauthorized mining activity across the nation.”
The minister credited the progress to the proactive support of President Bola Tinubu, which has enabled an effective inter-ministerial collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, ensuring swift deployment of resources and personnel to protect mining regions.
In addition to strengthening security, Mr Alake shared the ministry’s vision for establishing Nigeria as a global mineral hub.
According to him, targeted outreach efforts have successfully attracted the interest of leading international investors, positioning Nigeria’s mineral sector for future partnerships that promise mutual growth.
According to the Minister, with revenue on the rise and global interest growing, Nigeria’s solid minerals sector is gaining recognition as a driver of sustainable development.
He expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from Nigeria’s legislative authorities and other key partners, emphasising that these combined efforts are building a resilient foundation for the sector.
“We’re setting Nigeria’s mineral wealth on a path to growth, resilience, and international respect,” he stated, adding with a smile, “But like Oliver Twist, we ask for more. We look forward to even stronger collaboration to achieve greater milestones.”
The minister expressed optimism that with these reforms setting the stage for substantial economic contributions, Nigeria’s mining sector is on a trajectory to significantly bolster the nation’s gross domestic product.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Mr Garza Gbefwi, said the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development remained dedicated to advancing transparency, growth, and robust support for this sector.
He noted that the group has taken a more direct approach this year by engaging closely with each agency under the Ministry’s jurisdiction.
These engagements, he explained provide invaluable insights into the achievements and challenges within the sector, particularly from key agencies such as the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF). The goal is to address any obstacles that could hinder the sector’s development.
The chairman disclosed that one of the main challenges the NGSA faces is limited financial resources, especially for fulfilling its essential mandate of generating geological data.
Mineral exploration is a highly capital-intensive activity, and sufficient funding is critical to producing reliable data that can drive the sector forward.
To that end, he advocated for increased funding to facilitate a seamless partnership between NGSA and SMDF, enabling both agencies to contribute effectively to sectoral growth.
Recognising the solid minerals sector’s importance to Nigeria’s economy, Mr Gbefwi called on the federal government to prioritise funding for its development.
He encouraged the ministry to work closely with the president and other key stakeholders to secure resources that will foster the sector’s long-term sustainability and impact.
Addressing licensing and consent challenges the Chairman, among other things, stressed that licensing for exploration and extraction is an area that requires careful handling, especially concerning community consent.
However, without a well-managed consent process, local tensions can arise once valuable resources are discovered.
He noted that a transparent and inclusive licensing framework is essential to minimise conflicts, respect community rights, and ensure harmony.
The Committee, he said, supports efforts to enhance this process as a means to foster stable, sustainable growth.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the latest United States airstrikes on Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) targets in northwest Nigeria were conducted at the request of the Nigerian government.
According to reports, the US struck at ISWAP targets in Jabo, Sokoto State, on Christmas night.
The ministry described the operation as a product of established counterterrorism cooperation between both countries.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the Ministry said the strikes were “undertaken following formal engagement and with the full knowledge and coordination of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“The Government of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the airstrikes conducted by the United States against Islamic State elements in parts of northwest Nigeria were carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and in line with existing bilateral security cooperation frameworks,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that Nigeria “remains firmly in control of all counterterrorism operations within its sovereign territory,” adding that international partners only provide support “where such assistance aligns with Nigeria’s national security objectives.”
According to the statement, the strikes form part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to “degrade terrorist capabilities, disrupt logistics networks, and protect civilian populations from violent extremist threats.”
The Foreign Ministry further emphasised that the federal government “will continue to work with trusted international partners to confront terrorism, banditry, and transnational criminal networks that threaten national and regional stability.”
Reacting to concerns around sovereignty, the Ministry said:
“At no time was Nigeria’s sovereignty compromised. All actions were conducted with due respect for Nigeria’s laws, institutions, and command structures.”
The statement also cautioned against mischaracterising Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that extremist violence “has affected communities across religious and ethnic lines and should not be framed in sectarian terms.”
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to a multi-layered response combining military operations, intelligence sharing, community engagement, and socio-economic interventions, adding that counterterrorism efforts remain focused on protecting lives and restoring stability.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strikes were carried out in Sokoto State and that multiple militants were killed.
US President Donald Trump described the strikes as “powerful and deadly,” saying they were directed at Islamic State militants responsible for violent attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has clearly denied that only Christians are affected by the killings, saying the terror spread across all faiths.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that “more to come” as part of sustained efforts against extremist groups.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The United States government gave some terrorists in Nigeria a Christmas gift that sent many of them to the great beyond.
On Thursday, December 25, 2025, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, directed his country’s military to launch air strikes on camps of members of the dreaded Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sokoto State.
According to Mr Trump, the military action, which he threatened to carry out a few weeks ago if the Nigerian government does not stop the killing of Christians in the country, occurred on Thursday night.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Department of War of the United States posted the below video of the air strikes;
https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.
Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.
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