Adesina appointed chairman of Botswana’s Diamonds for Development Fund
*Photo: Dr. Akinwumi Adesina Former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group and former Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Nigeria, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has been appointed as the inaugural Chairman of Botswana's newly established Diamonds for Development Fund. The appointment was jointly announced on Friday, May 29, 2026, by the Government of Botswana and the global diamond mining giant,...
Mining Marshals Drag 15 Chinese Nationals, 9 Nigerians to Court Over Alleged Illegal Lithium Mining in Nasarawa
The Mining Marshals have brought 24 suspects — 15 Chinese nationals and nine Nigerians — before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged illegal lithium mining activities in Nasarawa State. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia after their arrest on May 16, 2026, in Kokona Local Government Area, where they were reportedly caught mining lithium without the required...
Mining Marshals Commander petitions IGP Disu, accuses Police FID of plot to cripple operations of the Marshals
The Commander of the Mining Marshals, an enforcement unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Attah John Onoja, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, alleging a coordinated attempt by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) to undermine and discredit the elite anti-illegal mining unit.Onoja, in a 16-page petition dated May 27,...
Has diplomacy become mining’s latest critical resource?
By Engel Schmidl Three developments in the past week have highlighted a growing reality for Australian mining: success in critical minerals is increasingly being shaped not just by geology, project economics and engineering, but also by international relations and diplomacy. As Western nations seek to diversify critical minerals supply chains, Australian resource companies are finding themselves at the intersection of trade policy, national security and global industrial strategy. Recent developments...
NSCDC intercepts 36 tonnes of suspected illegally mined lithium in Kwara, arrests three
The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three suspected illegal miners for allegedly transporting solid minerals believed to be lithium ore without valid documents. The suspects, identified as Musa Abdullahi, 45yrs, Aliyu Ibrahim, 20yrs and Ishaq Ibrahim, 51yrs, all from Keffi in Nasarawa State, were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation by operatives...
Sierra Leone Mining Week ends with the question: Who is getting rich from the multi-billion dollar raw minerals export?
As government officials, mining executives and foreign investors gathered in Freetown for Sierra Leone Mining Week 2026, the language was polished: “value addition,” “beneficiation,” and “shared prosperity.”But beneath the conference slogans lies a harsher economic reality. Sierra Leone continues to export much of its natural wealth in raw form while capturing only a fraction of its true value.The event,...
Illegal Mining : Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Mining Site, Vehicles, Lithium Stones to FG
Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 22, 2026, ordered the final forfeiture of properties recovered from Chinese and Nigerians involved in illegal mining activities in Ogun State to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The forfeited assets include a mining site located behind the Baale’s Palace on Ileposo Street, adjacent to 59...
Nigeria, Türkiye sign MOU to deepen Cooperation in Solid Minerals Development
Dr Alake with the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye, Alparslan Bayraktar during the signing of the MOU The Governments of Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector, marking a significant step towards deepening economic collaboration between both countries. The agreement...
Webinar on opportunities in West Africa’s Lithium industry holds May 28
A webinar focusing on exploring the opportunities in the Lithium sector across west Africa holds on May 28, 2026. Organised by Vuka Group, organisers of the Nigerian Mining Week, the webinar is designed get lithium development in West Africa moving into a stage of real growth decisions. The theme is: West Africa’s Lithium Opportunity, Building a Regional Battery Grade Value Chain "Policy...
Dozens of people killed in Chinese coal mine explosion
Photo: Rescuers carry out search and rescue operations at the site of the Liushenyu coal mine At least 82 miners have been killed after a gas explosion tore through a coal mine in northern Shanxi Province, China, with rescue efforts still underway, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday.The blast occurred on Friday evening at the Liushenyu mine operated by...
