The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has clarified that political, social and cultural sensitivities are major impediments to controlled mining activities in the country.
He however, explained that the Federal Executive Council(FEC) has okayed N2.5 billion for the purchase of satellite surveillance equipment to combat illegal and unregulated mining nationwide.
Alake also told reporters after yesterday’s FEC meeting in Abuja that 320 illegal miners were arrested in recent months.
Out of the number, about 150 are currently facing prosecution, while nine, including four foreigners, have been convicted.
Shedding light on how politics affects the control of mining in the country, the minister said many states exert their influence over mining activities, even though the Federal Government has exclusive rights over mineral resources.
Alake attributed that to the Land Use Act which vests ownership of land in states.
His words: “There is a sensitivity given the peculiarity of our environment – political, social, and cultural – which we recognise.
“I have met the governors. I have had a meeting with 32 of them at their secretariat, organised by the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, who is also the governor of Kwara State.
‘’Some of them feigned ignorance of this constitutional separation of powers, even though they have attorneys-general.”
Alake assured that despite the legal clarity that mineral resources belong to the Federal Government, states exercise some level of control due to their ownership of lands under the Land Use Act.
Miners are required to obtain consent from host communities before being granted federal mining licences.
