Alake seals off gold mining site in FCT 

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has ordered the immediate seal-off of an illegal gold mining site in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to mitigate potential environmental hazards 

He warned that the government would not tolerate unlawful mining activities.

The Minister advised residents to steer clear of the affected areas while enforcement and remediation efforts are underway.

The seal-up order followed intelligence reports of fresh illegal operations on farmland behind CKC in Gwagwalada, where artisanal miners reportedly invaded after the accidental discovery of a gold vein during the digging of a soakaway pit.

The directive, according to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister,  Segun Tomori in Abuja on Wednesday, came on the heels of an earlier operation by the mine marshals which led to the successful recovery and sealing of a mining site around the District 2 Extension layout in Gwagwalada on August 16, 2025. 

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Preliminary investigations revealy that illegal artisanal miners invaded the area after the accidental discovery of a gold vein during the digging of a soakaway pit near a residential property. 

Upon receiving intelligence reports of renewed unlawful mining activity, the minister ordered the deployment of mining marshals to secure the site.

An on-the-spot assessment of the area on Wednesday by the Director of Mines Inspectorate, represented by the Deputy Director, Sunday Okhuoya expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance with the Minister’s directive.

Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Attah Onoja, confirmed that his team has established a 24-hour surveillance on the affected sites, pending the outcome of the Federal Government’s ongoing inquiry.