The
Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
Abdullahi Gana Mohammadu has said that the agency is set to deploy 5,000
Solid Minerals Defenders armed squad to curb Illegal mining activities
in the country.
Speaking to newsmen
shortly after signing Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with the
Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Fayemi Kayode, Minister of Interior,
Abdulrahman
Dambazau and Minister of State for
Solid Minerals, Abubakar Bwari, in Abuja, he said that due to
negligence there was no effective regulations or laws to protect the
exploitation of minerals which has led to loss of billions in revenue
that should have accrued to the Federal government, even as the
environment suffers degradation.
The NSCDC boss maintained that mineral deposits are supposed to be a
source of joy and wealth to the communities where they are deposited and
not a curse. But the reverse has been the case in many communities.
According to him, “The situation
is not too different from that which the oil- rich Niger Delta
communities found themselves in which led to agitation for better
living.
“The communities suffered inhuman
treatment from illegal miners who, apart from destroying their farmland
with impunity, also experienced environment degradation.”
He noted that stringent measures
like this is needed to stop illegal mining because despite continued to
campaign by government agencies against illegal mining activities
because of the danger associated with it the illegal miners because of
the fortunes they make from the heinous activities have refused to
desist.
---LEADERSHIP
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