₦airaland Forum

We are not going to tell history of even West Africa. We are going to begin that history from our communities because if you don’t know yourself, you can’t know your neighbours and if you don’t know your neighbours, you don’t know other people from other parts of the world.

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has described the study of history as the key to national development and promised that his administration would encourage it.

Speaking in Ilorin while receiving members and leaders of the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) at the Government House, the governor said: “If you don’t know or learn from your history, you will be walking in the dark struggling into the future. This is why history is very key. “We all know the importance of history and how colonialism has tried to bury our history and subjugate it for their own version of history.”

According to him, the government will support initiatives that would promote the study and appreciation of history in the society because of its relevance to human capital development.

“I’m glad that we have people around (the HSN) to document our history and as we come along we have to look into our own contemporary history because today everybody is a journalist on the internet.

“So we need professionals like you to set the record straight and be guided in the right history of our politics and traditions in Africa and the world in general,” he said.

Accompanied by council members of the body, the HSN President, Professor Okpeh Okpeh commended AbdulRazaq for his commitment to education and for being the first governor to host the society as part of its campaign to reintroduce the study of history at all levels, including in the elementary schools.

The HSN delegation included Prof Yakubu Ochefu, Executive Secretary Committee of Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria; Prof. Samuel Aghalino, Vice-President North Central; Dr. Akachi Odoemena; Dr. Patrick Ukase;

Dr. Lemuel Odeh; Dr Bashir Animashaun Vice-President South-west; and Dr. Abraham Ogunode.

Okpeh said the group came to seek Kwara’s adoption of history across its schools and its support for the body’s upcoming events commemorating the 60th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.

He said Abuja, owing to the advocacy of the HSN, has agreed to reintroduce history into schools’ curriculum but has delayed the implementation.

“Part of the reason why history was yanked off was that it was too complicated, too rigorous and we were asked if we could simplify it for pupils at primary and even secondary schools.

“So the Historical Society took up the challenge and we have come up with books on the basis of revised syllabus.

“The federal government has delayed the official commencement of the distribution of the books. So we are taking another strategy of linking up with progressive-minded state governors and AbdulRazaq has been identified as one of them.”

He added: “We are interacting with so many others but this is the first time the council is meeting with any state governor on this project.

“We want you to partner with the HSN to ensure that the books approved by the federal government for the first nine years of education are supplied to schools in Kwara State.

“It is simplified history. It is history that tells the story of the people. In developing this, we operationalised a philosophy that we are not going to tell the history of Western Europe.

“We are not going to tell history of even West Africa. We are going to begin that history from our communities because if you don’t know yourself, you can’t know your neighbours and if you don’t know your neighbours, you don’t know other people from other parts of the world.”

By Augustine Okezie, Katsina

Katsina Governor Aminu Bello Masari has ordered the restructuring of the Almajiri Koranic system of education in the state to address the challenges posed by the out-of-school-syndrome and promote inclusive education.

The Governor, who gave the directive while inaugurating three committees that will serve at the state, local government and wards levels in monitoring the Federal Government’s home grown school feeding programme, said it has become necessary to instill sanity in the quality of education in the state and free katsina streets from wondering Children

Some of the structural reforms ordered by the Governor include the conduct of the census of Almajiri Schools in the state to ascertain their actual number and population of pupils, extension of the school feeding programs to the Almajiri centres, restriction of the recruitment of pupils and teachers into the Almajiri schools in Katsina from the states and local Governments, incorporation of western education like English and mathematics into the Almajiri system and so on.

The Governor charged the members of the committee to show commitment and dedication to the responsibilities given to them, and quick reprieve from the challenges experienced in the school feeding system.

He said: “I am changing the committees to look at the Almajiri system and create centers in each of the schools. If we start to introduce and bring in the Almajiri system to school feeding program we will reduce the influx of young children in the streets and also help us on how we can give them some lessons especially on mathematics and English language.”

The focal person in charge of the home grown school feeding program, Abdulkadir Muhammad Nasir, said the main purpose of setting the committees is to monitor and supervise the program at all levels.

He said: “In the case of the wards committee, they are to propose names of vendors that will be drown from their wards and schools to provide food to the pupils as well as supervise the quality and quantity of food cook to ensure compliance”

He also revealed that ” at inception, Katsina had a number of 338,488 pupils that are currently on the school feeding register, and each child is entitled to N70.00 food every day, which brings a total amount spent in Katsina FG food feeding program to N23,million daily and N473 million every month and 5. 6 billion annually.”

Looking at the state of work in Apapa, completing the project in April doesn't seem feasible, especially the extension of the rail line to the seaport. We'll however, continue to work and redouble our efforts to complete the project and meet set targets. #LagosIbadanRail

fairfora:
When would the same FG come down south to fund our cocoa and cassava farms with improved yields?

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

The pilot scheme of the proposed ranching option of the National Livestock Transformation Plan, NLTP in Plateau State is to be funded by the federal government with the support of the State government, the Secretary of the ranching committee, Professor John Wade disclosed.

Wade who is also the State Focal Person for the NLTP stressed that though public-private partnership would also feature in the implementation of the ranching policy, funds to be expended at this initial stage would come from these levels of government.

It would be recalled that since the issue of ranching/ruga came to the fore in the State, diverse opinions had been expressed for and against the policy with many wondering who would fund it but Wade had explained sometime last year that “the federal government will be on the front seat of driving this process.

“It has made some commitment of providing support but if the whole thing is not out completely, whether fund will come from directly or indirectly or from international funding, over 70% will be coming from the central government while the State government will make provision as a kind of commitment towards making up the remaining percentage.”

As preparations are geared towards kick-starting the process, the State Government in this year’s budget has budgeted the sum of N250,000,000.00 for the “establishment and management of ranches.”

This is about the third year such amount has been budgeted for the same purpose but Wade explained that there were no releases in the previous years but necessary to be captured in the budget so that they money would be made available when the time comes.

He told Vanguard, “The Committee was inaugurated towards the end of the year, we are still at the administrative stage of take up, we have not taken off fully so we cannot start accessing funds because accessing funds must be justified.

“It is important that we factor the amount into the budget to make sure that when we are about to take off, we have money. Based on what we are doing now, we have not gone into major financial expenditure. We have not gone into constructions, what we are doing now is further advocacy and some data collection.

“There is provision if you look at the six-pillar policy of the Live Stock Transformation Programme, one of them is the humanitarian relief programme which adequately takes care of those aspects but don’t forget that as we are starting, Plateau State is among the first that is entrenching this thing.”

On when the programme will kick-off, he added, “We have to have an enabling law and we are in the process of getting an enabling law so that we know when we start that we have the backing of the law. Citizens are beginning to understand this thing, there is no problem about acceptance,

“Remember in the past two years, in the course of interaction, we have had a total of 22 interactions with different communities and stakeholders and as it is now, the pilot areas that we are starting with, Kanam and Wase. We have interacted with them, collected some data and they have been cooperating very well.

“This stage is about government setting the pace, we are already taking with other organizations that have indicated interests to key into it, we are in the stage of tidying up issues with them to see how they can come in but so many organizations have indicated interests. Part of the six-pillar is that government has the responsibility of providing some infrastructure and security.”

supercase1:
listen Mr Man Bokoharam takes on both soft soft and hard targets in Nigeria okay stop talking nonsense your Commander in chief sitting in asorock is nothing but a old schorched and evil jihadist

Taba21:
You're a completed fool in military it's means difference thing and get lost and learn.

supercase1:
What about millitary bases that are been overruned are they soft targets too

Taba21:
Sorry, I didn't know that you're a friend to lie Muhammad

Taba21:
Your security has been overrun and you called it soft target

Tomide007:
Very good at that...and for a state that is almost as big as southwest, defending soft spots is very difficult.

fitzmayowa:
Since "soft target" is the new lie they peddle. I guess the 17 soldiers killed are also "soft target"...

Chineme Okafor in Abuja

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday disclosed that Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State has been cut off from electricity supply from the national grid.

TCN in a statement from its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah explained that supply to Maiduguri and its environs were cut off because the insurgent group, Boko Haram damaged a number of its transmission facilities thereby preventing it from supplying electricity to the area.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby informs the public that Maiduguri and its environs have been cut off from the national grid since January 17, 2020, due to damages to TCN’s equipment by insurgents.

“The incident affected the 330kV transmission line between Maiduguri and Damaturu. Also, the Damboa – Maiduguri 132kV transmission line has equally been disconnected from the grid for sometime, for the same reason,” said Mbah in the statement.

The TCN stated that it had located the fault on the Maiduguri – Damaturu line and had arranged to repair the line, adding that bulk electricity supply would be restored to Maiduguri on or before today.

“TCN pledges to continue to work to ensure bulk electricity transmission and grid expansion nationwide. The company wishes to use this opportunity to commend the Nigeria Armed Forces for their continued support especially in areas prone to insecurity. TCN regrets inconveniences caused by this problem to electricity consumers in the affected areas,” she added.

KEHINDE ADEWOLE

A rights activist and legal practitioner, Malcolm Emokinovo Omirhobo has dragged the Federal Government of Nigeria Attorney General of the Federation and the National Assembly to court over the recent pronouncement on the South West Security outfit code-named Amotekun as illegal by the AGF.

In the suit the lawyer filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos, copy of which was made available to our correspondent on Friday night, he challenged the declaration of the instituted security outfit ‘Amotekun’ as illegal.

In Omirhobo’s suit, he joined the President of Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation, National Assembly, Inspector General of Police, Army, Navy and Airforce, as defendants, adding also the Attorney Generals of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti states.

Also joined in the suit are Attorney Generals of Zamfara, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Borno, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Yobe states.

The rights activist brought his originating summons to the court in pursuant to Order 3 RULES 6, 7 AND 9 OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT (CIVIL PROCEDURE) RULES 2019 and under the Inherent Jurisdiction of the court.

According to the suit, Omirhobo wants the court to decide whether it is discriminatory, improper, illegal, unlawful unconstitutional and undemocratic for the Nigerian government to support the transformation, institutionalisation and implementation of Sharia law and the use of Sharia police (HISBAH) running parallel with the Nigeria Police Force in different northern states with public funds while refusing to support the establishment of Operation Amotekun, a vigilante secular security outfit, set up within the context of a federal system of government to augment and complement Nigeria Police.

The lawyer and activist also wants the court to decide whether by the clear interpretation of the provisions of sections 1(1) and 10 of the 1999 Constitution, it is proper, legal, lawful, constitutional and democratic for the defendants to transform, institutionalise and implement Sharia in their states with public funds taking into cognizance the fact that Nigeria is a secular state.

Omirhobo also wants the court to decide whether the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is the supreme law of Nigeria and its provisions have binding force on all the defendants and all persons and authorities in Nigeria.

Based on the foregoing premises, the activist therefore, seeks the court to declare that:

“It is discriminatory, improper, illegal, unlawful ,unconstitutional and undemocratic for the Nigerian Government to support the transformation, institutionalisation and implementation of Sharia and the use of Sharia police (HISBAH) in northern states, while declaring illegal, the establishment of Operation Amotekun, a secular, vigilante security outfit, set up within the context of a Federal system of government to augment and complement the Nigeria Police.

“That it is improper, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and undemocratic for the defendants to transform, institutionalise and implement Sharia in their states with public funds taking into cognizance the fact that Nigeria is a secular state.

“That the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), is the supreme law of Nigeria and its provisions have binding force on all.”

Omirhobo consequently, seeks the court to make an ordef: “Restraining the government, their servant agents and/or privies from discriminating against the Nigerian public in the South West zone that is Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ekiti states by depriving them of those rights, privileges, opportunities or advantages to protect their lives and properties which the Nigerian public in Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Kastina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger and Gombe states are accorded and allowed to enjoy.

“An order, restraining the defendants from institutionalising and implementing Sharia and appropriating public funds for the sustenance of Sharia police (HISBAH) in their various states.

“An order disbanding Sharia police (HISBAH) in Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Kastina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger and Gombe states as part of State security infrastructure.

“An order compelling the defendants their servants, agents and privies to protect and respect the fundamental rights to freedom from discrimination, right to life, right to acquire and own immovable property and the right to freedom of movement of the plaintiff and those of the Nigerian public in the South West zone of Nigeria.

“An order, restraining the defendants, their servants, agents and privies from harassing, intimidating, molesting, dehumanising, coercing, cowing or bullying the Nigerian public of the South West zone who naturally are seeking means to protect their inalienable right to life and also protect their properties and other rights guaranteed to them by law.”

He wants the court to make such further order or orders, that it deems fit to make in the circumstances of the case.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the new suit.

ade002:
Love all your arguments its informative. But you have to see the big picture. Every one in power thinks he is their to champion his personal cause. seems government both past and present have failed to realize how fragile our unity is and they are gradually breaking bonds. Distrust is in the air.

If you leave with a friend and discover he comes home with other another fellow sheathing a knife. I will not blame you if you decide to sleep with a cutlass.

helinues:
Are they expecting the Amotekun officers to carry sticks in combating crimes?

Why do some people play Politicis with everything?

Operation Amotekun, has said that Operation Amotekun is a complement and not an alternative to the Nigeria Police.

“So, Operation Amotekun is largely an intelligence outfit, they will not bear arms.

Iamgrey5:
. @ emboldened

This has always been their route. it is the north that are unnecessarily scared

FriendNG:
But once they exceed the limit of the constitution (like start to bear arms), the federal government will respond.

By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation/ Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

Non- military or police members of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) otherwise known as Operation Amotekun will bear no arms, contrary to fears in some quarters,The Nation can now confirm.

The Southwest governors are already in the process of sending a delegation to Police Inspector General Mohammed Adamu on discussing the scope of the security outfit.

Expected to lead the delegation is Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.

The police and other security agencies shunned the launch of Operation Amotekun in Ibadan on Wednesday.

The boycott stemmed from fears that Amotekun might turn out to be a parallel security agency.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Saturday hailed the creation of the outfit as a welcome development.

The proposed meeting with the IGP is expected to focus on confidence building and the operational procedures of the outfit.

It was gathered that the South-West governors, who are determined to make a success of the security apparatchik, have decided to bridge the communication gap and allay fears in some quarters about the outfit by sending an emissary to the IGP

It was learnt that after Akeredolu’s session with the IGP, all the governors will further have an audience with Adamu in the Southwest.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The fact is that we don’t know why the police boycotted the launch but they were invited. Before the security outfit was unveiled, Governor Kayode Fayemi came to Abuja to represent the governors at a meeting with the IGP.

“By all intents and purposes, Operation Amotekun is not different from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the North-East. We have made the police to realize the purpose of the initiative from the onset.

“The governors are however still open to more talks with the police hierarchy. They have mandated their leader, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to meet with the IGP on the mode of recruitment, command role and operational procedures of Operation Amotekun with the police.

“Besides confidence building, the governors want a synergy between the police and Operation Amotekun. And the inauguration of the outfit came at a time the IGP was passionate about Community Police.

“So, there is a meeting point between the IGP and the South-West governors. It is left to the two parties to fine-tune the procedures and collaborate.

“After Akeredolu’s shuttle to Abuja, the South-West governors will also invite the IGP to the zone to meet with the people and assess the structure in place.”

Responding to a question, the highly-placed source who is a key strategist behind Operation Amotekun, added:

“The governors are not creating a State Police. Section 49 of the Nigeria Police Act has provided a window for the emergence of Operation Amotekun. The same provision is amplified by Sections 50 and 51.

“Section 49 deals with Special Constabulary in an emergency situation like this. The truth is that this Operation Amotekun was designed and conceived to complement the Nigeria Police.

Section 49 of the Police Act (The Nigeria Special Constabulary), says: “(1) There shall continue to be a Nigeria Special Constabulary (in this Act called “the special constabulary”).

“(2) The special constabulary shall be, and be deemed always to have been, part of the Nigeria Police Force, and accordingly references in this Act to the police force established under this Act shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, include, and be deemed always to have included, references to the special constabulary.
“(3) The special constabulary shall consist of- (a) special constables appointed in normal circumstances under section 50 of this Act; and

“(b) such emergency special constables as may be appointed from time to time under section 4 of this Act. (4) In so far as any enactment (whether passed or made before or after the commencement of this Act) requires police officers to perform military duties or confers power (whether expressly or in general terms) to require police officers to perform such duties, that enactment shall not, in the absence of express provision to the contrary, extend to members of the special constabulary.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is also one of the governors behind Operation Amotekun, has said that Operation Amotekun is a complement and not an alternative to the Nigeria Police.

Consequently,its personnel will not bear arms.

“From the way our people have embraced it, the popularity is beyond our belief,” he told The Nation.

“So, Operation Amotekun is largely an intelligence outfit, they will not bear arms. Those we are engaging have knowledge of the local terrain, the culture and the language of our people which can assist the police and other security agencies.”

IPOB hails Southwest governors for establishing Operation Amotekun

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday threw its weight behind the Southwest on the decision to set up the WNSN .

It said the coming of the security outfit was inevitable in view if the challenges across the country.

The group,in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful commended the Southwest governors, elders, stakeholders and politicians for “their doggedness and courage to protect their people and their region.”

It added: “The Yoruba decision and effort to launch Operation Amotekun security outfit just like our leader launched BSS in 2017 is most commendable.

“IPOB wholeheartedly welcome Amotekun and say good morning to those who out of ignorance, poor sense of vision, lack of reasoning and self-consuming jealousy fought against the formation BSS. They should cover their faces in shame if they have any face left after this.”

gunuvi:
At the bolded above, which police arrested the officially recognized police force seen in an hotel last week with some women.
My brother, leave suya for aboki, Amotekun has come to stay. Any Fulani or useless killers will be arrested and prosecuted by our amotekun warriors. Yoruba will no longer be killed like fowl in its lands again. Never again.

Tomide007:
is a vigilante the same with a police force? what makes amotekun a police force? Anybody can make arrests (Citizens arrest), they can bear dane guns cose they're hunters. the only thing that could have bound them is if they make arrests and prosecute. they make arrest but hand them over to the police.

Jaqenhghar:
Who said it is a police force?

fairfora:
federal laws are different from state. The outfit isn't for all Nigerians but for the states in the south west. Once the states assembly endorse it, the federal government doesn't have any power over state laws. Get that.

DarkJeddi:
In all these Epistle..

You have not explained to us how the Civilian JTF and Hisbah are allowed to operate and AMOTEKUN declared illegal?

That is what the layman wants to understand?

Falana said if an individual could apply for a licence to bear arms, he saw no reason why a state governor could not apply for firearms for local security arrangements.

Oladimeji Ramon

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has differed with the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), on the legality of the southwestern states’ joint security outfit, code-named ‘Amotekun’.

Barely a week after the five South-West governors jointly inaugurated Amotekun for the security of the zone, the AGF, on Tuesday, issued a statement, declared the security out illegal and unconstitutional.

Falana spoke in Lagos on Wednesday at the 16th Annual Gani Fawehinmi Lecture, with the theme, “Federalism and the Judiciary in Nigeria”.

Falana, who was the programme moderator, described Malami’s position on Amotekun as discriminatory, noting that northern states were operating similar security outfits such as Hisbah and the Civilian Joint Task Force.

Falana said, “In the North-East region, particularly Yobe and Borno, there is a civilian JTF, well-armed; and sometimes when the soldiers are afraid they ask the civilian JTF to go and confront Boko Haram.

“In Kano and Sokoto, you have Hisbah. Three weeks ago, Hisbah in Zamfara arrested a policeman; they said the policeman was caught in a hotel with three women and they said that was an abomination.

“The point I’m making is that the Nigerian state has collapsed; we are deceiving ourselves. What the (South-West) governors are doing is not more than the Neighbourhood Watch in Lagos. The only prohibition against any kind of group is in Section 227 of the Constitution – Nobody shall set up a military wing for political reasons.”

Falana said if an individual could apply for a licence to bear arms, he saw no reason why a state governor could not apply for firearms for local security arrangements.

He added, “You can go to Abuja today, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and apply to the IG for a licence to bear arms; he will give you. And I have asked the Governors of Lagos State since 1999, ‘Please, if I can ask for a gun to protect my family and myself, why can’t you ask for 10,000 licences for young men and women to protect 20 million people?’ We have to go back to court.”

Leo588:
What is Illegal mining first? Nigerians are the ones doing the most artisenal and illegal mining. These people have techniques and equipments, and only they may violate some environmental laws but not illegal.

Director, you are an Engineer or maybe a Geologist, so you should know better what Illegal Mining is all about not with a specification on the Chinese.

He also told our correspondent that the ministry is aware that some police officers compromise. But with “our special team who are already across all states, we will curb the economic crime.”

adolfHitler1934:
I saw a whole lot of them today in Abuja travelling to Sokoto for their illegal mining business. The funniest thing is that they get police protection with armed escorts ravaging our environment mining these solid minerals worth billions of dollars.

The federal government have always turned blind eyes or have been barking without bitting because they have collaborators in government and business circle. Nigeria dependant on oil has dwarfed our government's brain such that they don't think of any other means of earning hard currency except for Niger delta oil.

Dont worry...e go soon finish and everybody eyes go clear.

“The minister is trying to speak with the Chinese government to have a record of Chinese in Nigeria. It would be easier to get details through their embassy here. This allows us to know those who are milking our resources dry.

The Nigerian government has commenced moves to stop the illegal activities of Chinese and other artisanal miners across the country.

A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Fran Odoom, made this known to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview. The official said that illegal mining activities ”are killing Nigeria’s economy and environment.”

Mr Odoom, the Director of Department of Mines Inspectorate, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, said the government has set up a special mining surveillance team for the purpose.

“The government has set up a special mining surveillance team that go into the forest in different states to monitor those who are behind illegal mining activities. They started fully this year to see how best they can stop activities.

“The surveillance team consists of EFCC, Immigration officers, Customs and all other members of security parastatals. We must rescue this country because illegal mining is killing us.”

He also told our correspondent that the ministry is aware that some police officers compromise. But with “our special team who are already across all states, we will curb the economic crime.”

The ministry’s action comes weeks after two reports by PREMIUM TIMES exposed illegal mining activities in Osun and Ondo states.

Mr Odoom admitted that the reports influenced the actions of the ministry.

While one of the reports revealed how artisanal illegal mining activities from Osun to Ondo undermine Nigeria’s economy, the other report exposed how a large number of illegal miners pursued from Zamfara now carry out their unauthorised business in Osun. 

Nigerians on social media, while reacting to the report, charged the authorities to take appropriate steps to stop illegal gold mining in Osun State and other places.

Also, public health experts warned that if not properly tackled, illegal mining will lead to environmental and human health problems.

Mr Odoom also told our correspondent that efforts are in place to deal with illegal foreign miners in different states.

“We noticed your report also indicted the foreigners and we noticed that they were not conforming with our laws which is shameful,” the official said.

“The minister is trying to speak with the Chinese government to have a record of Chinese in Nigeria. It would be easier to get details through their embassy here. This allows us to know those who are milking our resources dry.

“We will check their papers and if we realise that they are not in places where they have to be, we send them away. But we don’t want the bad eggs to spoil the reputation of the good ones. The government will start checking the papers of these persons.”

Culpable traditional rulers

While reacting to a question on how the government plans to deal with monarchs supporting Illegal mining activities, he told PREMIUM TIMES that ”indicted kings and chiefs will face the law.”

“There are no two ways about it. The community leaders are also guilty and it is because they are not patriotic,” he said.

“This country belongs to all of us and it appears that the traditional rulers don’t understand that giving their blessing to people involved in illegal mining activities is a crime. It kills the nation.

“We have appealed to their conscience(s) on several occasions but if they continue to flout the rules, they will face the law. They will be adequately prosecuted and jailed if found guilty of misconduct.”