The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has reportedly tripled his personal security detail following a series of death threats linked to the federal government’s ongoing reforms in the mining sector.
Sources close to the Minister revealed to Uptown Press that the threats began shortly after the ministry revoked several mining licences belonging to individuals and companies found to be in breach of operational and environmental regulations.
Alake, who has been at the forefront of sanitising Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, is said to have taken the threats seriously, prompting a significant reinforcement of his security architecture, including around his private residence and official movements.
The Minister’s crackdown on illegal and non-compliant mining operators has rattled many vested interests, some of whom reportedly attempted to use intimidation to derail the reform agenda. However, a top aide to Alake said the Minister remains undeterred, insisting that “no amount of threats will stop the government from cleaning up the system.”
Dr. Alake had recently reiterated his resolve to reposition the mining industry as one of the major drivers of Nigeria’s economic diversification plan, stressing that only law-abiding investors would be allowed to operate.
Security sources confirmed that intelligence reports had been shared with relevant agencies to investigate the source of the threats and ensure the Minister’s safety as the government presses ahead with its reform measures.
Observers say the development underscores the high stakes involved in sanitising the mining sector, long plagued by illegal operations, corruption, and powerful cartels with entrenched interests.
Despite the danger, Alake is said to remain “focused and fearless,” determined to ensure transparency, accountability, and safety in Nigeria’s mineral development drive.