The mining sector has been in existence in Nigeria as far back as the 1900s, and in the past was a major revenue source for the Nigerian government. By the 1940s, Nigeria was a major producer of tin, columbite and coal and it was not until the discovery of oil in 1956 that the development of the sector regressed, as government and other stakeholders in the industry began focusing on the new resource.
Mining activities before 2007 in Nigeria were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Minerals and Mining Act (FMMA) of 1999. In 2007, the Nigerian Mining and Minerals Act (NMMA) was enacted, repealing the FMMA of 1999, for the purpose of regulating the exploration and exploitation of minerals in Nigeria.