The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development says collaboration with security agencies has reenforced it's security mechanism in the mining sector to ensure that rampant practice of illegal operators who underdeclare or not declaring what they take out of the country is corrected.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake disclosed this at the Ministerial Sectoral update of the President Tinubu's Administration in Abuja Nigeria's Capital which also featured the Ministry of Defence among other sectors.
He said there has been a lot of conivance with the host communities and various categories of Nigerians collaborating with foreigners to rob the country of its natural resources, calling for a national reorientation and a restructuring of the mindset.
The Dr. Alake stressed that the Ministry as a result of these nefarious activities has put in place Mines Inspectorate Division, to ensure there is no environmental degradation and danger while the mining process takes place.
"Henecfort nobody under my watch will be allowed to mine in Nigeria without critical plans for remediate effort (covering of pits or useful conversion of it) after the mining"
To further combat insecurity in the mineral sector in Nigeria, The Minister said "we took our concerns to the President who set up an interministreial committee who held discussion with heads of the security agencies to put in place a new security architecture to combat threats associated with the solid minerals sector"
He said based on the excegencies of insecurity in the mining sector, the Ministry had to think outside the box and create Mines Marshals to combat all criminal activities associated with the sector.
"We are also acquiring satellite surveillance systems to enable us monitor every activity on every mining site in the country to quickly deploy highly mobile Mine Marshals to stem the illegal activities and within feww weeks of Operation they have already made arrest including foreigners"
Ministry of Defence
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru has assured Nigerians that the ministry of Defence through the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to pursue and work deligently untill the issue of insecurity comes to an end in the country.
The Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru who lead a delegation from the Ministry of Defence that included the minster of State for Defence Dr Bello Matawalle, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa amongst others to affirmed that the security agencies have been succeeding with the help of community leaders and traditional institutions.
According to Badaru, as a result of the operational efficiency of the Armed Forces, Saveral high level commanders of terrorists have been neutralized by the armed forces of Nigeria which has degraded them and forced the remnants to surrender continously to the troops.
He said in the waterways, major illegal vessels that hamper crude oil production have been arrested with some destroyed by the Nigerian Navy, which has positively impacted the production of crude oil and increase revenue.
"The President has been committed to enhancing the capacity and capabilities of the troops with procurement of equipment and combat enablers thereby strengthening the efficiency of the troops in operations. You are also aware that the President signed the DICON Bill, that helped us to produce locally what is needed to prosecute the weapons for the fight against insurgency, in collaboration with some companies that are already starting production"
The Defence Minister stressed that inorder for the troops to continued to have the fighting spirit against insecurity, the President has not relented in supporting the armed forces with provision of combat enablers, welfare packages, prompt payment of salaries and allowances among other welfare considerations within the period under review.
Security Badaru emphasized requires a whole of society approach as every sector requires a secure environment to thrive, hence there has been heavy engagement of communities to assist the security agencies in providing information to rid the country of all forms of insecurity.
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