Nigeria to Establish Special Police Force to Combat Illegal Mining – Insights from Dele Alake
The Nigerian government has announced its intention to establish a dedicated police force specifically focused on addressing illegal mining activities across the country. This disclosure was made by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, during an interview on the NTA Weekend File. The minister outlined the strategies and initiatives that the federal government plans to implement in order to enhance the mining sector’s contribution to the country’s economy.
One of the key issues addressed by Mr. Alake was the challenge of insecurity in the mining industry. He emphasized that this challenge would be addressed through coordinated efforts with various security agencies and the establishment of a specialized police force dedicated to this purpose. As articulated by Mr. Alake, “We found out through intelligence reports that some illegal miners are directly responsible for the upsurge of banditry in several parts of Nigeria. That is why I have been working with the various security agencies and the National Security Adviser, the outfit we are coming up with, and the President is fully in support of this. We are going to create a special police outfit. We’ll call it the Mining Police Force or the Mine Police.”
Additionally, Mr. Alake highlighted that the proposed security outfit would not be confined solely to the mining sector, but its jurisdiction would extend to marine and the blue economy. He clarified that the special police force would operate under the authority of the Ministry of Solid Minerals, with its personnel being accountable to the ministry.
Furthermore, the minister announced that the ministry is granting a 60-day window for illegal artisanal miners to regularize their operations, become financially viable, and ensure compliance with governmental royalty and tax regulations.
In terms of facilitating the process for potential investors to obtain mining licenses, Mr. Alake expressed the ministry’s commitment to streamlining the application and licensing procedures to make them as efficient as possible. He stated, “That one-stop shop will enable you at a glance to know the processes that you have to go through so that you don’t need to go from one department to the other and be wasting time. It will tell you how to do it, what you should do, the requirements, etc. And the licenses after completing your applications legitimately must not take more than 30 days for it to be issued.”
The minister underscored the significance of the licensing process in attracting investors and facilitating the ease of doing business within the mining sector.
In conclusion, the unveiling of plans to create a specialized police force to combat illegal mining in Nigeria reflects a proactive step by the government to address critical issues within the mining industry. The various measures outlined by Mr. Alake aim to enhance security, encourage compliance with regulatory frameworks, and streamline administrative procedures for mining investors. These initiatives are poised to contribute towards the sustainable growth and development of the mining sector in Nigeria.
