In a revelation before the House Committee on Solid Minerals during the defense of the Ministry’s 2024 budget estimate, Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, unveiled that influential and powerful figures within Nigeria are orchestrating and financing activities such as banditry, kidnappings, and illegal mining.
Alake, addressing the committee on Tuesday, highlighted the government’s awareness of these nefarious activities and pointed out that the Tinubu-led administration is actively identifying the individuals responsible. He asserted that appropriate actions will be taken against these powerful figures.
The minister emphasized, “A crucial revelation we’ve made is that a significant portion of the insecurities and banditry associated with this sector is backed by illegal miners.” He clarified, “These are not your ordinary artisan miners who extract gold from the ground. Instead, they are formidable and influential individuals within our country, who are, unequivocally, Nigerians and not foreigners.”