Nigeria is emerging as a critical mineral hub. The government is cracking down on illegal operations

News Snapshot:

Open this photo in gallery: Miners work at an illegal tin mining site in Jos, Nigeria, on April 3.Sunday Alamba/The Associated Press Nigeria’s government is cracking down on illegal mining, making dozens of arrests of unlicensed miners since April for allegedly stealing the country’s lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones and power systems. The recent arrests come as Nigeria seeks to regulate its mining operations of critical minerals, curb illegal activity and better benefit from its mineral resources. The clean energy transition, a shift away from coal, oil and gas and toward renewable energy and...