The federal government is set to deal with persons engaged in illegal mining activities in the country, saying it doesn’t matter who is committing the offence, whether state, individuals, or corporate institutions.
The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake gave the stern warning on Thursday, August 31, in Abuja at the graduation ceremony and presentation of starter packs to batch 3 graduates of the ministry’s program on gemstone and jewelry master training and empowerment.
Dele Alake, who said illegal mining would no longer be tolerated by this administration, stated that the ministry is working closely with security agencies with a view to designing a very solid and enduring formula for combating illegal mining and illegal exploitation of all critical minerals in this country.
The minister said in due course, details would be unfolded to the public, adding that he was using the opportunity to send a strong warning to those currently engaged in illegal mining in Nigeria that henceforth, it will no longer be business as usual.
He said: “Now here, let me use this opportunity to send a very stern and strong warning to the entire nation. That with Mr. President, there is a new sheriff in town. With illegal mining, exportation of gemstones, critical minerals will no longer be tolerated by this administration.
“My ministry is currently putting in place some strategies, tactics and logistics. We are working very closely with the security agencies with a view to designing a very solid and enduring formula for combating illegal mining and illegal exploitation of all critical minerals in this country.
“In due course, the details will be unfolded to the public, but I’m just using this opportunity to send a strong warning to those currently engaged in illegal mining in Nigeria, that henceforth, it will no longer be business as usual.
“The definition of illegal activity is very straightforward. Those who are mining without the requisite federal government-approved licences. Those are illegal miners. Whether it’s a state, individual or corporate institution, it doesn’t matter who is committing the offence. It’s an offence to mine legally in Nigeria. And this practice has been going on for ages. In fact, since before independence, and that’s all we’ve discovered, however, it must stop.
Alake further stated: “And that’s why I gave that stern warning. And I mean that is the message of the President. illegal activities in this critical mining sector, solid mineral sector, must stop henceforth and it’s not just exaltation is not just sermonisation, we are putting very concrete and enduring steps and strategies to combat this menace, because he’s really affecting, adversely affecting the economic fortunes of Nigeria.
“We must address all our critical resources for the benefit of our nation. Today, it is a known fact all over the world that hydrocarbons are the downward trend in global international trade, oil that has been very contingent to our development, GDP substantially is no longer what it used to be and is on the decline. So what do we do? We have to shift attention to non-oil exports? And believe me, Nigeria is sitting on one of the most humongous amounts of mineral resources in the world.
“There is virtually no single state in this country that does not have one mineral or the other. That is sought after international global markets.”
The project coordinator, Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver), Engr. Sallim Salaam said the essence of the training and empowerment programme is value addition which has always been the plan of the government.
He said the 3rd batch of 30 trainees would join the other batches bringing the number of people trained in the gemstone and jewelry master training and empowerment programme to 70.
He said the trainees would be expected to go back to their numerous states and retrain others in jewelry making.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
