President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday noted that his government have discovered that criminals have infiltrated the mining industry in Nigeria.
Buhari made this claim while opening the 56th annual international conference and exhibition of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The theme of the conference was: ‘Responsible exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in a secured environment’.
The president was represented by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah.
The President said since most mining activities are carried out in remote places, it is easy for criminals to infiltrate the mining industry.
Buhari further stated that the money made from the industry is being used to fund criminal activities which has affected the security structure of the country.
He added that apart from the criminal activities affecting the economy, it is also affecting the security of lives and property of the people in many ways.
The President said, “The reality of this truth is most obvious in the minerals sector given the fact that mining activities take place in remote localities. Our intelligence gathering efforts have confirmed that most of these criminal elements have infiltrated the mining industry and are using it as means of funding their despicable activities.”
“It is with this understanding that we recently took the painful but necessary decision of banning all forms of mining activities in Zamfara State, where armed banditry has persisted.”
“It is also to this end that I directed the ministers of Mines and Steel Development to strengthen collaboration with state governments and relevant security agencies to ensure the security and safety of all mining areas. In so doing, we can achieve sustainable development of the minerals sector for the peace and security of our great country and good people.”
“It is in furtherance of our commitment and resolve to address the security challenges that I recently charged the newly-decorated service chiefs that they have just a few weeks to crush all forms of criminality in the country. We cannot yield the sovereignty of our nation to a bunch of individuals, who have refused to see reasons to abandon their criminality.”
“The security chiefs have been mandated to forcefully bring this criminality to an immediate end. Let me reiterate that the government is more than capable and more than ever determined to halt all forms of criminality perpetuated by these individuals.”
President Buhari in his statement on Tuesday restated the commitment of his government to diversifying Nigeria’s economy using mining and agriculture sectors as viable option.
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who was decorated as a fellow of the NMGS alongside others, identified the placement of mining on the exclusive list as a factor hindering its development.
Makinde said, “One of the factors holding back exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the various states, including Oyo State, is the ownership of resources.