Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has exposed those behind the series of bandit attacks in some parts of the country.
According to him, banditry and kidnappings associated with parts of the country were being sponsored by powerful Nigerians engaged in acts of illegal mining in the country.
Alake disclosed this on Tuesday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals to defend the Ministry’s 2024 budget estimate.
The minister said those he described as “heavy and powerful Nigerians” were actually the ones behind the insecurity in areas of the country with solid mineral deposits.
He said the government was identifying those individuals and will take appropriate action against them as part of efforts to ensure that the areas are secured for investors who have shown interest in investing in the solid minerals sector in the country.
He said: “One discovery that we have made is that a lot of these insecurities and banditry associated with this sector are sponsored by illegal miners.
“These are not your artisan miners. They are not the people who pick gold on the ground. These are heavy and powerful individuals in our country. They are Nigerians and not foreigners.
“Yes, you can see foreigners as symptoms, but they are not the basics. Nigerians are the powers behind those foreigners that you see on the streets. We are identifying them and employing various strategies, both kinetic and non-kinetic.
“The non-kinetic with that artisan miners, I gave them an ultimatum that they should form themselves into cooperatives because every Nigerian has a right to life and necessities and if the government cannot provide these necessities, we cannot push them into the bush.”
He said his ministry has encouraged the small-scale miners to form themselves into cooperative societies, adding that as of the last count, about 50 of such cooperative societies have been formed.
He disclosed that with the creation of the Ministry, they embarked on a sensitisation programme aimed at drawing the attention of the world to the solid minerals deposit in the country.
He said as a result of such a drive, foreign investors have begun to make enquiries about the possibility of investing in the sector.
According to him, the ministry has identified about 44 key solid mineral deposits in the country which have global demand, pointing out that out of this number, the ministry has singled out seven for particular attention because of their importance.
Rubbish, you are not to identify or expose them. You should treat them as criminals.
Jokers everywhere as leaders, this is how they will come up with unfounded information about knowing those behind insecurity and will fail to mention their names and make them face the wrath of the law, you hide their identities for no justifiable reasons, as blessed as our country look at how it is been mismanaged, there is one thing for sure, we will give account to God.
Great work from from Mr Alake, keep it up brother
Buhari was given names of sponsors of Boko Haram and what did he do with it?
The north mines solid minerals in their areas and pocket the revenue but still collect allocations from the oil revenue from the south. The south should be allowed to control their oil revenue as the north is controlling the solid minerals revenue in their areas. The cheating must stop or else…
Anywhere Igbo man goes, division is always there take. We are talking about Nigeria, you are here expressing your bigotry. This is Nigerians are not trusting Igbo in our politics. Let’s desist from this and make Nigeria a better place.
Here we’re talking about our dear country Nigeria not sentimental.
Why are you so hard on him? Did he insult anybody? He just stressed the obvious
Nigeria should go back to regional system.
Or else what
Or else what Ugwu John?
May be you are hoping the south should fall into a situation of serious insecurity like what is happening now in the north.
That is your thinking, but remember atree can not make are Forrest and left hand always washes right hand
All politicians are criminals
This is not about division Mr. Ugwu, it’s all about the unity N prosperity of our dear country Nigeria. This country is blessed my brother but only a few individuals re benefiting N enjoying the blessed resources we have. U re talking of the North enjoying their resources, I’m telling this is the root cause of all this Banditry N kidnapping as what Honourable minister disclose. Off course he’s 100% right. Nigeria most survived
Mr dele alakija u are one of them all APC??? is among of than.
De Don Great justi
Whaoh! This is a good approach. Let the so called ‘powerful individuals’ be brought to book and face the wrath of the law. Nigeria must be great.
Your hate for Igbos will not let you read between the lines and comprehend bcos you also got your education through forgery that’s if you’re even educated. You bigot calling! What is bigotry/division in the opinion of a folk who questioned why the folks from the north should be pocketing the revenue from solid mineral and still greedily disturbing the south’s oil revenue? Nitwit
.y brother it’s a terrible thing. OIL IS FOR ALL WHILE SOLID MINERALS IS FOR WHERE ITS FOUND AND YOU ARE SAYING WE ARE IN THE SAME COUNTRY USING THE SAME LAWS/CONSTITUTION? LORD HAVE MERCY.