Illegal mining: FG warns task force against compromise

THE Federal Government has warned members of the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force (SMSTF) on Illegal Mining against the temptation of compromising the objectives of the assignment given to them by conniving with illegal miners.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Abdulkadir Mu’azu, gave this warning at the opening session of the second phase training of members of the Task force organised by the Ministry held in Jos, Plateau State.

The members of the special taskforce were drawn from Nigeria Police, Nigerian Customs, Directorate of State Security Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Zonal Mines Offers in the states.

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The training is structured in three phases and the first phase was held in January this year.

Dr. Mu’azu, said the training was aimed at enlightening and educating the Task force on what constitutes illegal mining as contained in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, its ancillary Regulations 2011, Explosives of 1964 and Regulations of 1967 respectively.

Speaking through his representative, the Director of Mines Inspectorate, Engineer KarnapWuyep, the Permanent, noted that the Task force was established in 2012 with membership drawn from relevant ministries and security agencies.

He said: “The Task force is charged with the responsibility of curbing illegal mining, reducing environmental degradation and plugging of revenue leakages amongst others. It is structured into short, medium and long-term targets to achieve its mandate and one of the medium term targets is the training of the Task force on relevant aspects of mining particularly mining legislations, mineral identification, etc”.

He assured the participants that the ministry based on the available budgetary allocation and other intervention funds would provide relevant logistics and funds needed to accomplish their assignment.

He further enjoined them to use the knowledge and skills acquired for proper minefield monitoring and surveillance to curb illegal mining across the Federation.