….as NSCDC Vow to protect infrastructure
Paul Effiong, Abuja
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Illegal Mining has assured of it commitment to tackle the activities of illegal mining of mineral resources across Nigeria even as its also pledged to ensure transparency adding that money generated from natural resources will be used for national economic prosperity.
Chairman of the newly constituted Ad-hoc Committee Hon.Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem gave the assurance at the inuaguration and inuagural meeting of the Committee at National Assembly complex, Abuja.
The House Committee he stated is constituted by the House and mandated to fight illegal mining of mineral resources, block revenue leakages, enforce transparency and ensure that every naira from our natural resources is property accounted for.
He further stated that core objectives of the Committee is to block revenue leakages caused by illegal mining and it’s associated activities that hinder the legitimate mining operations.
The House Committee hinted that Nigeria loses approximately $9 billion annually due to illegal mining activities adding that the theft of our resources had gone too far long.
The House panel said that through structured oversight, it would strengthen Revenue Tracking Mechanisms and ensure that the full benefits of Nigeria’s mining sector flows directly into government coffers.
Meanwhile the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps NSCDC has pledged to partner with the newly constituted panel to combat the menace of illegal mining.
Commandant General of the Corps Prof Abubakar Audi represented by Assistant Commandant Atajo Onoja said that the NSCDC in collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals and other relevant agencies had set up a task force on illegal mining.
He informed the House Committee that the agency had arrested over 500 illegal miners out of which 270 are currently being prosecuted in the nation’s law courts.
The House Committee pledged to work with all relevant government ministries, agencies and other stakeholders with with a view to end criminality and environmental degradation linked to illegal mining of mineral resources in Nigeria.
