The Federal Government has issued a decisive call to action, urging the Council of Mining Engineers and Geosciences (COMEG) to serve as the primary bulwark against unprofessional practices that threaten the integrity and economic potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector. This move underscores a strategic shift from mere regulation to active partnership in building a world-class mining industry.
At the 15th induction ceremony for over 259 new professionals in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, represented by Permanent Secretary Mr. Faruk Yabo, framed COMEG’s role as not just custodial but foundational. “The ministry relies heavily on its work to eliminate quackery and uphold global best practice,” he stated, highlighting that professional standards are the critical first line of defense against the sector’s chronic issues of illegal mining, environmental degradation, and revenue loss.
This partnership is central to President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for economic diversification. The minister positioned COMEG as a “key implementing partner,” directly linking professional integrity to national economic security. The sector’s seven-point agenda, which prioritizes strong institutions and skills enhancement, depends on COMEG’s rigor to succeed.
Beyond Regulation: A Multi-Faceted Strategy for Reform
The government’s vision for COMEG extends far beyond traditional licensing. The council is being integrated into a comprehensive ecosystem overhaul:
- Digital Integration: COMEG’s alignment with the Electronic Mining Cadastral System and Decision Support Platform is designed to create a transparent, digital ecosystem. This reduces bureaucratic delays, minimizes human interference prone to corruption, and provides real-time data to boost investor confidence.
- Economic Empowerment & Value Addition: The introduction of mandatory geo-entrepreneurship training is a pivotal innovation. It moves professionals beyond technical expertise, teaching them how mineral value addition fits into global supply chains. This transforms geoscientists and engineers into job creators who can establish processing plants and related businesses, capturing more value within Nigeria.
- Formalizing Artisanal Mining: COMEG is tasked with a critical role in organizing artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) into cooperatives. This involves bringing informal miners under a framework of professional guidance, improving safety and environmental standards, and linking their output to the formal economy—a key step in curbing the very quackery the government aims to eliminate.
- Strengthened Enforcement: A revised disciplinary framework promises “zero tolerance” for illegal mining, environmental breaches, and misconduct. This suggests forthcoming, more stringent penalties and active enforcement mechanisms to back the professional standards being set.
Tangible Results and Future Trajectory
The minister pointed to early indicators of success: over 867 new mining licenses issued in 2025 and a staggering increase in sector revenue from N12 billion to over N50 billion. These figures, while promising, are presented as a baseline. The planned nationwide geophysical surveys and exploration activities for 2026 aim to de-risk the sector further, providing the high-quality geological data that legitimate, professional mining companies require to invest.
In response, COMEG’s Registrar, Prof. Zachaeus Opafunso, affirmed the council’s commitment to “continuous innovation.” He outlined plans for youth empowerment through hands-on training, directly supporting the presidential push for job creation and reduced oil dependence. Ms. Rose Ndong, President of the Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), charged the new inductees with upholding the profession’s credibility through skill development and innovation.
The Bottom Line
The Federal Government’s rallying cry to COMEG represents a recognition that Nigeria’s mineral wealth cannot be unlocked by policy alone. It requires an impregnable foundation of professional competence and ethics. By empowering COMEG as a central actor in digital transformation, entrepreneurship, enforcement, and formalization, the strategy seeks to build a sector where quackery is systematically designed out, and professional excellence becomes the sole gateway to participation. The success of this partnership will be the true measure of the mining sector’s transformation from an informal enclave to a disciplined engine of national growth.
Edited by Gabriel Yough
