The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has issued a ultimatum to all illegal miners operating in Nigeria, giving them 30 days to join established mining cooperatives or face legal consequences.
This announcement came during a world press conference held in Abuja on Sunday, where the minister unveiled plans to establish a surveillance task force aimed at securing the nation’s mines.
While announcing that the 30-day ultimatum to miners and plan to introduce security operatives were parts of his seven transformation agenda, Alake expressed his concern over the illegal extraction of precious mineral resources such as gold, bitumen, lithium, and uranium in significant quantities without contributing to the welfare of the nation’s citizens.
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He said, “I am giving illegal miners in this country just 30 days grace to join cooperatives or find another vocation. Also, the proposed task force will be domiciled in the ministry and will comprise operatives of all the relevant security agencies.
“For the last time, let me declare again that the ministry is giving such persons 30 days grace to join a miners’ co-operative or find another vocation to do.
“On the expiration of the period, the full weight of the law will fall on anyone seen on a mining site without a determinable status. This message will be interpreted into Nigerian languages and broadcast on the radio to ensure no one is ignorant of this directive.
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“From October, a rejuvenated security regime will become active in the solid minerals sector. This will include the Mine Police, sourced from the Nigeria Police and specially trained to detect illegal mining and apprehend offenders. The new Mines Surveillance Security Task Force will coordinate the Mines Police and proactively address high-risk incidences of breach of Mining Laws. The Federal and State governments will also be encouraged to allocate the prosecution of cases against illegal miners to competent courts.”