The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and his counterpart in defence, Abubakar Badaru, are finalizing plans to enhance security in mining areas across the country. The collaborative efforts are part of a broader strategy to eliminate the activities of illegal miners and curb associated banditry, as reiterated by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
During a closed-door meeting at Mr. Alake’s office, Minister Badaru emphasized the need to bolster security around mining sites to enable the country to capitalize on the revenue potential of the mining industry. He highlighted the challenges posed by insecurity, acknowledging that the mining sector could significantly contribute to the nation’s revenue if adequate protection is provided.
“The country needs to make huge revenue from mining, but insecurity is bedevilling the industry. That’s why the minister is pushing so hard for us to provide serious protection around the mining areas. That is why we discuss always to see how we can protect the mining environment, bring lasting peace to the country so that mining will flourish and the country will earn the much-needed foreign exchange from the sector,” stated the Minister of Defence.
Addressing inquiries about the proposed security architecture, Mr. Badaru reiterated plans for clearance operations at flashpoints, paving the way for the deployment of specialized mining police. He disclosed that preparations are at an advanced stage, emphasizing collaboration with the solid minerals ministry to compile data on all mining sites for coordinated security operations.
Minister Alake, in his remarks, issued a stern warning to illegal miners and their sponsors, emphasizing that their days are numbered. He affirmed the Federal government’s commitment to enforcing the law against those engaged in nefarious activities within the mining sector.
