FG will establish zonal courts to prosecute illegal miners

The Minister of State Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah, said the Federal Government is working on the law to establish zonal courts to prosecute illegal miners.

Ogah stated this on Tuesday while addressing stakeholders at a meeting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, that anyone without necessary mining approval would be made to face trial and jailed for a minimum of two years without the option of fine.

The minister said the government is working towards diversifying the nation’s economy from oil to mining, so as to address the challenge of economic burdens, unemployment confronting the country.

Ogah said the move would bring out 100 million Nigerians out of poverty while assuring FG’s readiness to partner with state governors and other stakeholders to resolve bottlenecks in the area of levies collection for better service delivery.

“We want Nigeria to be a mining destination because we want to use this ministry as a key for the diversification of the economy of this country to create employment for the teeming Nigerian youths.

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“Mining is key towards the industrialisation of this nation. The fourth industrial revolution can only be by the way of mining and Nigeria is blessed with over 44 mineral resources. That is why we’re devoting our time on the way forward yo develop this sector.

“As you can see, within a short time, we have come up with a lot of policies to encourage local miners. We are coming up with a policy called “Downstream Policy” that you cannot take away any ore.

“We want to encourage you to do your businesses in genuine ways: pay your royalties and let the federal government gets money to develop the nation. Do your Environmental Impact Assessment Reports. We are encouraging them because mining is key for the diversification of the economy,” he said.