We’ll clamp down on illegal miners, Dele Alake warns

 

On Thursday, the Federal Government unveiled measures to realign the solid minerals industry with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dr. Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development, stated that the unlawful mining law was still in effect and issued a grave warning to those who violated it.

He urged the offenders—whether the state, specific people, or corporate institutions—to stop the illegality, claiming that the law does not regard status.

Alake emphasised that things would not continue as normal and added, “Let me utilise this opportunity to deliver a very harsh and powerful warning to the entire nation, that with Mr. President, there is a new sheriff in town. This administration will no longer permit the export of vital minerals or jewels as a result of unlawful mining.

“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 is a state, individual or corporate institution, it doesn’t matter who is committing the offence. It’s an offence to mine illegally in Nigeria. And this practice has been going on for ages, in fact, before independence. However, it must stop.

“And that’s why I gave that stern warning. And I mean it, 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.”

He added: “We must harness all our critical resources for the benefit of our nation. Today, it is a known fact all over the world that hydrocarbons are on 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 amount 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 are sought after in international global markets.”