The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, says the Nigerian Government will not succumb to blackmail or media attacks in its efforts to curb illegal mining and insecurity in the sector.
Speaking during a forum, Dr. Alake revealed that the biggest challenges facing the mining industry are external, driven by individuals benefiting from illegal operations. These individuals are resisting the government’s reforms and have resorted to smear campaigns and blackmail against the launched mining marshals.
“The challenges that I’ve seen, in a nutshell, are not administrative at all, they are external. First, on the security, the efforts that we’ve made so far in curbing or stemming the tide of insecurity and illegal mining operations is facing serious pushback from those who are benefiting from the nefarious activities.” The Minister noted.
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The Minister stated that some operators have attempted to discredit the mine marshals by accusing them of bribery.
“In fact, some came to say that the leader of the mine marshals is asking them for bribe and that they’ve paid him bribe. I said, ‘wow, this is what I’ve been looking for. Please give me the evidence.one of them said he was coming back the following day with the evidence. That was six months ago. I’m yet to see him.” Dr. Alake explained.
However, Dr. Alake emphasised that the mining marshals are making significant progress in curbing illegal mining activities.
Dr. Alake said some operators have tried to discredit the mining marshals by accusing them of bribery, but none has provided any evidence.
He said the smear campaign has extended to the media, with one television station forced to apologise after publishing false claims against the leader of the marshals.
“At some point, the man came to me to say one medium blackmailed him. I said, ‘well, did you do it?’ He said, no, he didn’t do it. I said, okay, get a lawyer to sue that medium. And he did. Forty-eight hours later, that same medium, a TV station, put up a public apology because they were paid to do the hatchet job. And because, of course, like every profession in this degeneration, also in journalism, there’s no balancing of reportage,” he noted.
Dr. Alake further said the ministry remains firm in its commitment to reforms and is drawing strength from President Bola Tinubu’s stance on accountability.
The Minister noted, “Our hands are on the plough and there’s no looking back. I am not going to remove anybody from the mine marshals except I see concrete evidence of malfeasance or misdemeanor.”
“But I am one person that never buckles under any blackmail. No inducement can sway me at all. So we are confronting that challenge as well.” Dr. Alake said.
Dr. Alake’s said this underscores the government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining and promoting a more secure and regulated mining sector, noting that the government will not be deterred by external pressures and will continue to push forward with its reforms.