The Nigerian government may have lost about four billion naira in three years, owing to illegal practices and corrupt activities of companies operating in the mining sector.


The schemes through which these companies have defrauded the government include non-remittance of revenues, unlicensed mining and evasion of taxes, illegal practices, and incessant smuggling of solid minerals out of the country.


Analysis showed contradictions between the reconciled data of many extractive companies and those of government agencies.


The review of Audit reports showed that the export data of some mining companies were not captured by regulatory agencies of government.
Previously, thirteen per cent derivation payments to solid-mineral producing states were not paid.


It was gathered that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development did not put in place a framework for separating solid mineral revenues.