Alake insists on total war against illegal mining as marshals mark one year of creation

Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development, is insisting that there will be no hiding place for illegal miners as he continues waging war against the act in Nigeria.

The minister stated this at a press briefing to mark the one-year anniversary of the Mining Marshals which commenced with a parade by the Marshals at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

According to Alake the progress made in dislodging unauthorised mining activities and restoring investor confidence in the sector must be sustained.

He commended the Mining Marshals for arresting 327 suspected illegal miners, arraigning 143 suspects in court and recovering 98 mining sites.

Related News

“The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has also approved N2.5 billion for the deployment of satellite technology to enhance security architecture in the mining sector,” Alake said.

The Minister commended the Commandant of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Attah Onoja, for his leadership and dedication.

Onoja expressed gratitude to the minister for his guidance and support, noting that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the minister has contributed immensely to the successes recorded.

With the deployment of satellite monitoring, the federal government aims to pioneer air and ground coverage for the security of the solid minerals sector, a major milestone in efforts to sanitize the sector.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.