Federal government has lauded the effort of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for living up to its mandate of securing critical national assets and infrastructure in the mining sector of the economy.

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch Olamilekan Adegbite made this commendation to the Commandant General, NSCDC during a courtesy visit at the headquarters of the Corps, stressing that the agency has scored a pass mark in its effort towards curbing the activities of illegal miners across the country.

The minister stated that, aside the amount of degradation it has caused to the environment, the activities of illegal miners in the country has led to loss of trillions of naira in revenue to the Federal government, however, he is glad that the NSCDC has changed the narratives since taking over the duty of protecting the sector.

He tasks the Commandant General to continue to provide effective security to the sector and to support government’s effort in recovering all accrued unpaid royalties by mineral titleholders across the country.

Commandant General Abdullahi Gana in his response thanked the Federal government through the Honorable Minister for believing in the Corps capability to deliver on its assigned duties. Reiterating that his agency’s achievement in the sector could not have been possible without the support of the Minister.

He therefore emphasize that the Corps will continue to work in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development towards revamping the sector and curbing illegal mining activities at Federal, State, and Local government levels.

Gana stressed that all illegal miners are economic saboteurs and would not be spared the wrath of the law as arrest is being made across the country and convictions secured in many instances.
He promised to give attention to the sector like never before and assures that Civil Defence will be fully involved in the royalty recovery committee set up by the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.

Urging titleholders with unpaid royalties to do the needful as NSCDC is ready to recover all revenues due to the Federal government.