Collaboration Between Ministry of Solid Minerals and Defence to Ensure Secure Mining Environment
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and Defence Minister, Abubakar Badaru, have convened to formalize strategies for bolstering security within Nigeria’s mining sector. During a courtesy visit to Minister Alake, Badaru underscored the imperative of cooperation in safeguarding mining sites nationwide. He reiterated the commitment of the Bola Tinubu administration to eradicating illegal mining activities and the associated criminal conduct.
Badaru emphasized the significance of generating substantial revenue from mining, whilst highlighting the detrimental impact of insecurity on the industry’s progress. The Minister stressed the pivotal role of heightened security in enabling the mining sector to flourish and contribute significantly to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.
In response to the proposed security measures, Badaru underscored that plans are in motion for clearance operations at identified flash points, as a precursor to deploying specialized mining police. He also disclosed efforts to gather data on all mining sites in the country to facilitate coordinated security operations.
Dr. Alake reaffirmed the government’s steadfast resolve to combat illegal mining activities, cautioning wrongdoers and their supporters that their actions will not be tolerated. He emphasized the government’s readiness to enforce the full force of the law against those engaged in nefarious activities.
The collaboration between the Ministry of Solid Minerals and the Defence Ministry holds the promise of fostering enduring peace within the country and creating an environment conducive to the flourishing of the mining industry, thereby making a substantive contribution to the nation’s economic advancement.
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