MINISTRY OF SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT OBTAINS FEC’s APPROVAL TO PROCURE AND INSTALL SATELLITE EQUIPMENT, GADGETS 03-03-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has obtained Federal Executive Council’s approval to procure and install satellite equipment, satellite gadgets in strategic places across the country.
The Minister, Mr. Dele Alake, told newsmen in Abuja that such would enable the Ministry to police the country’s mineral deposit sites to combat unlicensed, unregulated, underreported mining activities.
He said lack of strong policies and policing had led to revenue leakages, illegal operations, and illegal extraction and exportation of the country’s minerals.
Mr. Alake said part of the strategies adopted by the Ministry to protect Nigerian mineral resources was persuading illegal miners to form co-operative groups to get them structured, formalised, and legalised, to add some value to the nation.
He said the strategy had paid off, adding that so far, the illegal miners have formed over 300 cooperative societies, which fully legalised, structured, and contributing meaningfully to the coffers of the nation.
Mr. Alake warmed that FEC’s approval would be meted to erring illegal miners, who had refused to honour the government’s persuasion to formalise their operations.
He explained that some of those illegal miners, including foreigners, had been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted.
The Minister said despite the progress recorded in thwarting their activities, there would be the need to introduce technology into the Ministy’s overall practice and strategy.