Minister commends NSCDC for tackling illegal mining
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been commended by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, for its efforts in securing critical national assets and infrastructure in the mining sector.
Adegbite, who paid a courtesy visit to the NSCDC Commandant General, Abdullahi Gana, in Abuja, said the corps efforts have yielded positive results as witnessed in the drastic reduction in the activities of illegal miners across the country.
The minister stated that aside the amount of degradation it has caused to the environment, the activities of illegal miners in the country has led to loss of trillions of naira in revenue to the federal government.
He however, expressed gratitude that the NSCDC under Gana’s leadership has changed the narrative since taking over the duty of protecting the sector.
While calling on the corps to continue providing effective security to the sector, he appealed for support in recovering all accrued unpaid royalties by mineral titleholders across the country.
Responding, the corps commandant general thanked the federal government for believing in the corps capability to deliver on its assigned duties.
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He therefore, pledged that the corps will continue to work in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development towards revamping the sector and curbing illegal mining activities at federal, state, and local government levels.
Describing illegal miners as economic saboteurs, Gana warned that no one involved in the illegal act will escape the wrath of the law, even as he disclosed that arrests are being made across the country and convictions secured in many instances.
He also warned all titleholders with unpaid royalties to do the needful as the NSCDC is ready to recover all revenues due to the federal government.
