The Federal Government (FG) has issued a 30-day ultimatum to illegal miners in the country to desist from such illegal activities and join a miners’ cooperative. This was made known on Sunday by Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development during the launch of the ‘Agenda for the Transformation of the Solid Minerals for International Competitiveness and Domestic Prosperity’.
He said, “For the last time, let me declare that the ministry is giving such persons 30 days grace to join a miners’ cooperative or find another vocation to do.
“On the expiration of the period, the full weight of the law will fall on anyone seen on a mining site without a determinable status. This message will be interpreted into Nigerian languages and broadcast on the radio to ensure no one is ignorant of this directive.
“From October, a rejuvenated security regime will become active in the solid minerals sector. This will include the mine police, sourced from the Nigeria police and specially trained to detect illegal mining and apprehend offenders.
“The new mines surveillance security task force will coordinate the mines police and proactively address high risk incidences of breaching of mining laws.
“The federal and state governments will also be encouraged to allocate the prosecution of cases against illegal miners to competent courts.”
