Kebbi Lithium Mine Shut Down Over Alleged ₦1.4 Trillion Illegal Extraction

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has sealed off a lithium mining site in Libata, Kebbi State, following revelations of large-scale illegal extraction activities allegedly amounting to over ₦1.43 trillion.

The crackdown, executed by the NSCDC’s newly deployed Mining Marshals, is part of a broader national effort to combat illicit mining and safeguard Nigeria’s strategic mineral resources.

According to the agency, preliminary investigations revealed that the company operating the site whose name is being withheld due to ongoing investigations worked in collaboration with unnamed foreign nationals to unlawfully extract lithium valued at ₦1,431,762,340,450 over a two-year period.

Officials say the operators grossly exceeded the boundaries of their Small Scale Mining License (SSML) and Exploration License, encroaching on areas legitimately owned by another mining titleholder. This encroachment, coupled with the volume and commercial scale of extraction, violated several key regulatory provisions, including:

Section 46(2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, which prohibits unauthorized commercial mining outside the scope of a valid license.

Section 48 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011, which governs the conduct of exploration and small-scale mining operations.

“This act is not just an economic crime but a direct sabotage of our national mineral policy framework,” said one senior NSCDC official. “It deprives the government of enormous revenue and undermines the legitimate efforts of compliant operators.”

The NSCDC also noted that investigations are ongoing to identify all individuals and entities linked to the illegal operation, and appropriate legal action will be taken.

The crackdown is part of a broader move by the Federal Government to formalize Nigeria’s mining sector, curb mineral theft, and attract responsible foreign investment. Lithium, a critical component in the global energy transition and battery production, has recently become a highly sought-after resource, making its illegal extraction a growing concern for Nigerian authorities.