The Minister of Solid Mineral, Mr Dele Alake, on Tuesday, alleged that some ‘powerful’ Nigerians involved in illegal mining are sponsoring banditry and terrorism in the country.
He stated this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals for the ministry’s 2024 budget defence in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Alake also alleged that foreigners also engage in illegal mining in the country, most of whom had no proper immigration.
He called on the Federal Government to pay close attention to the mining sector which would take in trillions for the country annually.
He said for mining to generate the requisite revenue, there was a need to have a formal structure that the multinational could deal with, just like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The minister, however, said that the approach of the ministry under his leadership would be different from NNPCL, adding that the structure being proposed for Nigeria Mining Cooperation would be primarily private sector-driven.
