Workers in the Ministry of Solid Minerals under the aegis of Federal Mines Officers have sought the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in the fight against illegal mining activities.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Commission on Thursday, November 21, 2024, the President of its Port Harcourt Branch, Engr. Naku Romos, who led the delegation stated that the officials came to seek the collaboration of the Commission in their desire to see the curtailment of activities of illegal miners from the country’s mining sector. They noted that activities of illegal miners are not only illegitimate but constitute economic crimes and destructive to the already heavily compromised Niger Delta ecosystem.
“We are from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. It has been our tradition, our culture whenever we have new heads to make it an obligation to go out and familiarise ourselves with the relevant government agencies, especially law enforcement agencies like the EFCC, Police, DSS and others,” he said.
Romos, who assumed office in September, 2024 further recalled that the Solid Minerals Development Ministry was saddled with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the mining of solid minerals in the country and frowned that the federal government was losing much economic resources in the extractive industry due to activities of illegal miners. He further noted that there was zero possibility of achieving results in the fight against illegal mining in the country without the ministry’s collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
Responding, the Acting Director, Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate, Adebayo Adeniyi, disclosed that the EFCC was ready for any collaboration that was geared towards a better Nigerian society, adding that efforts were already in place in the area of illegal mining, being an area of priority importance to the Commission’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede. He pointed out that Olukoyede has set up a Special Task Force across all EFCC directorates for the purpose of handling illegal mining cases and further disclosed that the Port Harcourt’s Directorate has a couple of illegal mining cases it is currently investigating.
Adeniyi urged the Ministry to pursue preventive measures through enlightenment programmes for all miners as many of the unlicensed miners may be unaware that they are committing crimes as well as degrading the environment.
“First of all, enlightenment is key to make them know that this is what is required of them. If they don’t move away from it, then you have to write to me. If you are sure and aware, bring up a petition, we will definitely take it up from there, as they are illegally exploiting our natural resources and destroying the environment. I can assure you that the EFCC will maintain aggressive posture against illegal mining in the Niger Delta region by ensuring that it is brought to a halt,” he said.
