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Nigerian Government Warns Foreign Mining Companies Funding Banditry and Illegal Mining

The Nigerian federal government has issued a strong warning to foreign mining companies sponsoring banditry and illegal mining operations in the country. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, said the government will clamp down heavily on these unscrupulous foreign companies funding banditry to carry out illegal mining activities.

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Nigeria-China Chamber of Mines, Alake appealed to the foreign companies to immediately stop sponsoring banditry and illegal mining or face the full force of the law. He reiterated the government’s commitment to setting up a multi-agency task force to curb illegal mining activities and bring the perpetrators and their collaborators to justice.

The minister further noted that the government has given illegal miners a 30-day grace period to formalize and structure their operations in line with regulations for small-scale artisanal miners. This, he said, will enable the government maximize revenues from the mining sector.

Alake stressed the urgency of streamlining small-scale mining operations across the country. The Nigeria-China Chamber of Mines commended the government for taking decisive action against banditry and illegal mining. They pledged to support efforts to sanitize the mining sector and boost productivity.

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