The House of Representatives has inaugurated an Ad Hoc Committee on Illegal Mining to curb a $9 billion yearly loss due to illicit mining activities in the country. 
 
Speaking at the inauguration, yesterday, the Committee Chairman, Sanni Abdulraheem, described illegal mining as a scourge that undermines national revenue, fuels criminality, and degrades the environment.
 
“It is estimated that Nigeria loses approximately $9 billion annually due to illegal mining activities. This theft of our resources that should be enriching our nation has gone on for far too long, and it is time to put an end to it”, the lawmaker said. 
 
He said the committee is tasked with blocking revenue leakages, enforcing transparency, and ensuring that the nation’s mineral wealth contributes fully to economic development
 
Abdulraheem assured that the panel that every natural resource contributes to the nation’s economic prosperity.Stressing that the lower chamber would leave no stone unturned, the chairman said the committee stands firmly on the constitutional mandate entrusted to it by Nigerians. 
 
Speaking on the Ajaokuta Steel Company, he stated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had shown unprecedented political will to rejuvenate the critical national asset.
 
He lamented that for years, the vital industrial asset had been underutilised, leaving the country to watch, while other nations capitalise on similar resources for development.

ALSO, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Ahmad Satomi, has expressed concern over the growing security challenges in the country, following the disclosure that some 51.89 million household crime incidents were recorded between May 2023 and April 2024.
 
Speaking yesterday at a public hearing on the Private Intelligence and Investigation Council Bill, Satomi described the figure, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), as alarming and reflective of the urgent need for coordinated action to curb criminal activities nationwide.
 
The NBS report further indicates that kidnapping alone accounted for 2.23 million incidents, with ransom payments totalling N2.23 trillion during the period under review.

Satomi observed that similar reports from security agencies reveal troubling trends, stressing that the scale of criminality had made it imperative for stakeholders to work collaboratively to address the situation. He explained that the proposed legislation aligns with the National Assembly’s efforts to strengthen the legal framework for national security.
 
According to him, the proposed law seeks to establish a council to oversee and accredit private intelligence and investigation services, streamline regulatory compliance, and foster partnerships between public and private security institutions to enhance intelligence gathering and operational effectiveness.
 
However, Satomi disclosed that stakeholders’ submissions raised concerns about certain sections of the bill, particularly Section 1(3)(a–f), which some argue could dilute the statutory responsibilities of existing security agencies in matters of clearance and internal vetting. 
 
Similar concerns were raised about Section 4(i) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, with stakeholders held the provisions could lead to duplication of roles, legal disputes, and jurisdictional conflicts.
 
He further observed that the differing positions of security agencies on statutory oversight responsibilities highlight the persistent challenge of poor collaboration and ineffective intelligence sharing.
 
Satomi urged stakeholders to submit their comments and recommendations to the committee, assuring that their inputs would be carefully considered to ensure that the proposed legislation strengthens, rather than fragments, the country’s security architecture.
 
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, who declared the hearing open, reiterated the urgent need for security reforms.Represented by Tolani Shagaya, he stated that the time has come for the debate on multi-level policing to transition from theory to decisive legislative action, adding that creating state police through a constitutional amendment remains a viable option that deserves serious consideration.
 
Abass stressed that beyond constitutional reform, there is also the need to strengthen community policing as provided in the Police Act, 2020, to make it more effective and responsive to the realities of local communities.