By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has charged the 2,220-capacity Mines Marshal tagged Hayakin Kogo to stem theft and all nefarious activities around the nation’s mineral resources so that the nation can reap benefits from its resources.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, gave the charge when he received the marshals drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) from the Commandant-General, Mr Abubakar Audi on Thursday.
He tasked the marshals to smoke out illegal miners and all those who flout the nation’s mining laws.
According to a statement by the media aide to the minister, Mr Segun Tomori, the launch of the marshals is in fulfilment of the minister’s pledge to create a new security architecture to secure mining sites.
Mr Alake charged the new operatives to stem theft and all nefarious activities around the nation’s mineral resources so that the nation can reap maximum benefits from its God-given resources.
Highlighting the role played by his interior counterpart in the evolution of the new security outfit, Mr Alake commended Mr Olubunmi-Ojo for putting words to action and working tirelessly with the solid minerals ministry to achieve the feat.
“Today’s event of unveiling and formally handing over the specially trained and selected civil defence structure to engage illegal miners and sanitise our mining environment was also part of what we conceived at the inter-ministerial committee chaired by me.
“I am very happy to let the public know that from the outset we said are going to tackle insecurity in the mining sector and the first batch of the security apparatus is what we are launching today,” the Minister added.
The mines marshal devised to be an inter-agency security outfit will incorporate special operatives from other security agencies like the Nigeria Police, the army, amongst others. Its operations will largely be technologically driven.
In his remarks, NSCDC Commandant-General, Mr Abubakar Audi stated that the new mines marshal will give verve to the corps’ mandate of protecting national assets and infrastructure in which solid minerals are a major component.
Mr Audi revealed that the marshals will liaise with the mine inspectorate in states to garner intelligence and take directives from the ministry for the effective execution of its mandate.
“We have a list of illegal miners across the nation, and we will go after them. Their days are now numbered, “Audi declared.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Mr Jonathan Gbefwi, who graced the occasion, expressed satisfaction with the new security outfit, noting that with improved security around mining areas, Nigeria’s economic fortunes are bound for a forward leap.
“When the Minister reeled out his 7-point agenda during his inaugural address, which included the Mines Police, not a few people were sceptical about it. But today, he has matched words with action. On behalf of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I doff my hat for him and say, “Well done.” You can be rest assured of the continued support and cooperation of the House of Reps and, by extension, the National Assembly,” the lawmaker said.
Modupe Gbadeyanka