Nigeria’s natural resources are receiving heightened protection as the Federal Government strengthens its collaboration with security forces.
An expanded meeting was held on Thursday in Abuja, bringing together the Presidential Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining Operations and Exploitation, chaired by Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, with top security service chiefs.
Giving highlights of the meeting, Alake had disclosed that the committee’s meeting with service chiefs and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was a follow-up on the earlier one to get inputs for developing a workable strategy to effectively secure Nigeria’s natural resources, in line with the presidential mandate.
“Today, we have deliberated exhaustively. We have covered all the issues, all the grounds. Certain decisions have been made, and there is going to be another follow-up meeting because the security agencies are going to give us the framework of execution of our mandate.
“The security agencies, the service chiefs, NSA’s office, the Inspector-General of Police are going to form a smaller committee to give us the workplan, execution modalities and we will be meeting in another fortnight,” the minister was quoted as saying.
This renewed emphasis on security underscores the growing concern about the illegal exploitation of Nigeria’s valuable mineral resources. From lucrative gold to strategic tantalite, these riches have unfortunately attracted nefarious actors, prompting the government to take decisive action.
The presence of security service chiefs at the meeting suggests a coordinated approach to tackling this complex challenge. Collaboration between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and security forces on intelligence gathering, surveillance, and law enforcement operations could prove crucial in curbing illegal mining activities.
Beyond traditional security concerns, the issue carries significant economic and environmental implications. Unregulated mining often carries devastating consequences for local communities and ecosystems. Ensuring responsible and sustainable resource extraction requires not only deterring illegal operations but also establishing robust regulatory frameworks and environmental protection measures.
