.Kwara tasks geologists on menace
Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, yesterday, conducted a major crackdown on illegal mining sites in Nasarawa State to discourage economic sabotage.
The operation resulted in the arrest of three Chinese nationals and two Nigerians.
Acting on credible intelligence, the marshals targeted an illegal facility in the Rafin-Gabas area of the Agwada Area Council of Kokona.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, restated a strong commitment to protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure and promoting sustainable mining practices.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the minister said: “The suspects were arrested for mining without lawful authorisation. Some of the minerals being mined include fluorite, zinc, lead and tin.
“The arrested suspects confessed to having been involved in activities at the site spanning five cadastral units since 15th December 2021.
“The company defied all lawful advice to their activities, and continued siphoning the nation’s resources, causing significant revenue losses to the Federal Government.”
In a related development, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has charged economic geologists to initiate enduring solutions to the illicit act and the associated security challenges in the country.
He appealed at the opening ceremony of the two-day third International Conference of the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists (NSEG) in Ilorin.
Represented by the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Dr Afees Abolore, the governor described happenings in the mining sector as an unpleasant situation, demanding an emergency solution.
He, therefore, urged the professionals to use the conference to dwell on issues around the huge challenge of illegal mining and security, noting: “Solid minerals take the centre stage in the national economic reforms.”
According to him, the government foresees a Nigeria where the solid minerals subsector dominates the GDP through massive employment generation and wealth creation.
He lamented that the vision was being threatened by illegal mining and security challenges.
AbdulRazaq restated Kwara’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.
Earlier, the president of NSEG, Dr AbdulRazaq Garba, said Nigeria was at a most critical time in terms of its mineral resources development and environmental sustainability.
Garba, who said the country’s minerals industry holds significant promise, however, stressed the challenges confronting the industry, including “regulatory complexities, infrastructural, limitations, funding gaps, and the need to bridge technological advancements with our traditional practices.”
