The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, says the lower chamber will implement tougher licensing measures in the mining sector to curb illegal resource trading and cut off financial support for insecurity.
He made disclosure on Wednesday at the 8th annual conference of the Network of African Parliamentarians on Defence and Security Committees held in Abuja.
The conference, centered on regional cooperation and natural resource governance, convened African lawmakers and security experts.
Abbas noted that weak regulation of extractive industries fosters corruption and fuels violence, especially in areas abundant in gold, oil, and other minerals.
“Our continent faces many challenges. Poor management of natural resources, open borders, extreme ideologies, and alienation of young people are causing conflicts that threaten lives and institutions.
“The Sahel region, rich in gold, oil, and minerals, has seen thousands of deaths just this year. West Africa recorded nearly 25,000 civilian deaths between 2021 and mid-2024.
“These numbers show that insecurity in one part of Africa affects the whole continent’s prosperity.
“Nigeria has embraced the responsibility of leadership in continental security. From early ECOWAS peace-support initiatives to our current involvement in the multinational joint task force and the Gulf of Guinea maritime arrangements, we reliably provide troops, intelligence, and mediation,”Abbas said.
He added “Parliament supports this leadership through legislation, oversight, and ongoing citizen engagement.
“The struggle for peace is also a struggle for responsible stewardship of Africa’s natural endowments.
“Illicit mining, opaque oil contracts and unregulated timber corridors generate revenue streams that arm insurgents, corrupt institutions and deny communities the dividends of growth.
“Where resource governance is weak, violence takes root; where it is transparent and accountable, prosperity and stability follow. Nigeria’s recent reforms illustrate the point.
“The Petroleum Industry Act has overhauled Nigeria’s oil and gas sector governance.
“The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative now publishes disaggregated revenue data, and beneficial-ownership registers are exposing shell.”
The lawmaker also advocated for a continent-wide framework on digital sovereignty, aimed at enabling African nations to safeguard their cyberspace and financial systems while upholding civil liberties.
