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, disclosed this during a telephone interview adding that illegal mining activities ”are killing Nigeria’s economy and environment.”
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 said 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.
Odoom further said efforts are in place to deal with illegal foreign miners in different states.
