The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has cautioned Nigerians against confronting, intimidating, or attempting to undermine the activities of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals.
Alake issued the warning on Tuesday in Abuja during the commissioning of eight gun trucks at the NSCDC Headquarters.
He stressed that individuals seeking to discredit or obstruct the marshals’ efforts to clean up and regulate the solid minerals sector would be regarded as enemies of progress and saboteurs of the government’s reforms.
Alake also said that some mining marshal had been challenged by persons and institutions who in his estimation were direct beneficiaries of illegal mining activities.
The minister said: “Anyone, whether a uniform personnel or not, who seeks to frustrate the noble works of these mining marshals is an economic saboteur and will be treated as such; that I can promise you.
“Once you aid, sponsor or operate illegal mining sites, the government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring your arrest.”
The minister described yesterday’s inauguration of the trucks as the beginning of the greater plans by the ministry for the marshals.
He also said that the ministry’s budget had made provision for the purchase of modern technological gadgets including armoured vests and vehicles to further protect the mining marshals.
“We shall continue at the administrative level to ensure we put all necessary things and support in place to smoothen your operations,” he assured.
Alake commended the operations of the mining marshals, adding that, their success stories had successfully sent a strong message to illegal mining operators.
“It is no longer business as usual to flout the lines of regulations in Nigeria as there will be consequences,” he warned.
The minister disclosed that the marshals, in the last two years, had successfully arrested more than 300 illegal miners, prosecuted more than 100 and made several convictions of illegal miners from across the country.
“If we are able to drastically reduce their activities, more revenue will flow into the country as we have been able to attract more investors both locally and internationally following the active clampdown of these illegal operators,” the minister said.
He added that efforts had been made to sanitise the special unit by ensuring operatives of the mining marshals possessed the right values.
Mining Marshal Commander John Onoja, appreciated the Alake, his Interior counterpart Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the management of the NSCDC for equipping the unit with more operational vehicles.
He noted that the minister was determined to ensure the fight against illegal mining was about putting words to action and not just rhetoric.
“We are privileged to acquire this standard gun trucks to further strengthen our operations across the nation,” he said.
The commander gave assurance that the trucks would be adequately deployed and effectively utilised to combat the activities of illegal miners across the country.
