The Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr Dele Alake, says powerful Nigerians are involved in illegal mining and are sponsoring banditry and terrorism in the country.
Mr Alake stated this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals for the 2024 budget defence at the National Assembly.
He stated that the ministry had identified them and is employing kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to tackle the problem.
” A lot of the banditry and other forms of insecurity associated in the sector are actually sponsored by illegal miners.
These illegal miners are not the people who picked gold dust on the ground, no. These are heavy powerful individuals in our country, and they are Nigerians.
He also said that the host communities where mining activities take place across the country would be engaged to forestall the breakdown of laws and orders.
The Minister pleaded with the committee to consider the amount budgeted for the ministry in the 2024 budget proposal.
The Chairman of the committee Mr Gaza Gbefwi, stated that the solid minerals sector remains the last hope of the country to attain the level of diversity it requires
Mr Gbefwi however, observed that the funds appropriated to the sector in the 2024 budget are grossly inadequate.
He added that the committee has taken proactive steps to put up motions and bills that would strengthen and reorganize the sector.
