FG deploys satellite monitoring, more funds to combat illegal mining

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to curb illegal mining activities in Nigeria through the deployment of satellite technology and increased budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

Speaking at a press conference marking the first anniversary of the Mining Marshals Corps, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, emphasized that illegal miners will no longer have a hiding place.

He credited the corps for significantly disrupting unauthorized mining operations, restoring investor confidence, and enforcing the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA).

“The activation of the corps to enforce provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) has struck fear into illegal operators, largely curbing their operations and serving as a deterrent,” Alake stated.

According to him, “the mining marshals held direct engagements across 10 states of Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory leading to the arrest of 327 suspected illegal miners; arraignment of 143 suspects; recovery of 98 mining sites and identification of 457 illegal mining sites.”

While the marshals’ operations have been somewhat hampered by logistical constraints, Alake reassured that with the increased budgetary allocation for the Ministry in the 2025 fiscal year, such limitations would be addressed.

He expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly for allocating a budget that aligns with the significant responsibilities of the Ministry in the 2025 Appropriation Act.

He emphasized that this funding will allow the ministry to thoroughly equip the Mining Marshals, improve their operational capabilities, and expand their coverage across the country.

It will be recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved N2.5bn for the deployment of satellite technology to enhance the security architecture of the mining sector which will consequently aid the operations of the mining marshals.

Assessing the impact of the Mining Marshals over the past one year, the minister asserted that 2,220 corps at inception which has now been scaled up to 2,670 operatives have raised awareness of the enforcement capacity of the Federal Government to combat illegal mining, establishing considerable deterrence among illegal miners and contributed to substantial increase in revenue, generated from the sector.

The minister also commended the Commandant of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Attah Onoja, for his leadership and dedication, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to further strengthen the corps with better logistics, additional personnel, equipment, and ammunition to decisively eliminate illegal mining.

In his remarks, Commandant ACC Onoja expressed gratitude to the minister for his guidance and support, noting that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the minister has contributed immensely to the successes recorded over the past 365 days.

He welcomed the federal government’s gesture to boost their operations with improved logistics, emphasising that the corps is motivated to ramp up the battle against illegal mining with a view to sanitizing the mining sector.

READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE