FG inaugurates marshals to end illegal mining in Nigeria
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has inaugurated the first batch of Mining Marshals Corps to combat illegal mining.
The presentation of the mining marshals took place in Abuja on Thursday.
Alake stated that the mining marshals were drawn from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He noted that the NSCDC, being a nationwide paramilitary organisation, would deploy units across the country to collaborate with federal mines officers in the states and local governments to combat illegal mining in all forms.
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According to the minister, “On assuming office, we announced the seven-point agenda as the strategy to position the solid minerals sector for domestic growth and international competitiveness.
“A crucial component of the agenda is the transformation of the security architecture to combine ground troops with innovative technology.
To demonstrate the priority this administration places on security, the president set up an inter-ministerial committee on the protection of natural resources, which I chaired.
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“The protection of the mines, forests, and coastal shores of the country were critical components of our brief. One of the outcomes of our strategy is what we are witnessing today: the presentation of the mining marshals to engage illegal miners.”
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