Abuja - President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that the Federal Government will no longer tolerate illegal mining and other improper activities inhibiting the growth of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

The president gave the warning after receiving a briefing from top officials of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, led by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk.

The president, who noted that the mines and steel sector was very important for the diversification of the economy, expressed displeasure at Farouk’s report that the sector had been overrun by illegal miners.

"This is one of the most demoralising briefs I have received. The biggest threat to this country besides the Boko Haram is unemployment and the mining sector is key to employment creation.

"We cannot be held back on such a strategic industry that can give us much needed jobs and promote economic growth.

"There must be more seriousness in running this country and we are determined to instill that seriousness," the President said.

Also read: Mining to contribute 2 per cent to GDP in 2016 - Minister

The Permanent Secretary had said Nigeria’s mining sector had been infiltrated by “illegal aliens” who carried out unlawful mining activities in the country.

Also on Tuesday in Abuja, President Buhari directed the Ministry of Environment to undertake a rigorous study of Lake Chad and bring up proposals on how best to reverse the shrinking of the lake.

He said it had served as a major source of livelihood for thousands of people.

The president gave the directive after receiving a briefing from the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Nana Mede, the challenges facing the ministry.

President Buhari noted that the security and economic challenges faced by member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission could be substantially ameliorated with an improvement in the economic value of the lake.

The president also urged the Ministry of Environment to take up the challenge of researching cheaper ways of sourcing energy for cooking apart from firewood.

Mede had informed President Buhari that the lake had receded considerably from the 1960s, when it covered an area of more than 26,000 square kilometres, to less than one-tenth of that size currently.

http://www.news24.com.ng/National/News/FG-will-no-longer-tolerate-illegal-mining-Buhari-20150805

in case you don't know, gold is mined illegally in zamfara state thereby leading to lead poison of available water sources and land. somehow it hardly hits the news.

stale...

Good

The mining sector has been long ignored by Nigeria perhaps deliberately.
While Individuals from those mineral resources regions are allowed free hands to mine and sell the mineral resources for personal gains without remitting a kobo to the federal purse ,the oil from Niger delta has been made a national cake.

Dharniel:
stale...

This is not stale is a current news in fact today. Are you an Illegal Miner?

INTROVERT:
in case you don't know, gold is mined illegally in zamfara state thereby leading to lead poison of available water sourced. somehow it hardly hits the news.

The mining sector has been long ignored by Nigeria perhaps deliberately.
While Individuals from those mineral resources regions are allowed free hands to mine and sell the mineral resources for personal gains without remitting a kobo to the federal purse ,the oil from Niger delta has been made a national cake.

Illegal mining is being carried out by Nigerians and foreigners (especially Chinese) in various parts of the country. I was told that there are Chinese carrying out illegal mining in some parts of Niger State and ordinary citizens cannot challenge them because they carry weapons and can kill. Makes one wonder what our security agencies are up to.

Chiaka:


This is not stale is a current news in fact today. Are you an Illegal Miner?

i came accross this yesterday, so it's kinda stale to me...

Dharniel:


i came accross this yesterday, so it's kinda stale to me...

Well the news is still on......lol so whats your headache about. Confess!

Hmn! they are sure not working alone.
Individuals are mining on their own in other states while Niger delta oil is for all. Fake country! the reason we are shouting for true federalism! with true federalism the states them selves with fight to end it no longer the FG since they'll bee looking for revenue

dustydee:
Illegal mining is being carried out by Nigerians and foreigners (especially Chinese) in various parts of the country. I was told that there are Chinese carrying out illegal mining in some parts of Niger State and ordinary citizens cannot challenge them because they carry weapons and can kill. Makes one wonder what our security agencies are up to.

FG has not been able to stop the bunkering of oil, the mainstay of our economy, they are talking of mining, a sector they abandoned since the time of jesus.

Symphony007:
FG has not been able to stop the bunkering of oil, the mainstay of our economy, they are talking of mining, a sector they abandoned since the time of jesus.

True Federalism will end all these!

"...The Permanent Secretary had said Nigeria’s mining sector had been infiltrated by “illegal aliens” who carried out unlawful mining activities in the country..."

"illegal" + "alien"
so how are we going to deal with these illegal aliens? or are we facing another faceless cabal clique?

Solid mineral is managed by the state government Buhari must work with them to achieve his aim.