The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch Olamilekan Adegbite has directed Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) under the leadership of Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi to end illegal mining operations across the country.
The minister gave the directives during a courtesy visit to the NSCDC headquarters, Abuja on Monday.
In an e-statement signed by the NSCDC Director of Public Relations, DCC Odumosu Olusola made available to The Trumpet, the minister said “the Corps is contributing very significantly to the actualization of the economic diversification program of government as the nation moves from the over-dependence on oil as the mainstay of our economy to other sectors such as mining and agriculture which if properly harnessed, will benefit everyone through increased local and foreign earnings that will translate to growth and development of the country.
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“There is a need to protect the nation’s solid minerals from illegal miners to prevent huge economic losses and maximize profits. Thus far, the NSCDC has performed excellently well in protecting these God-given resources from the hands of wasters and I have come to thank you for doing this great job.”
