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The Federal Government of
Nigeria has said it would establish a special court, regionally sited, to try
and prosecute illegal miners across the country.
Dr Uchechukwu Ogah,Minister of State, Ministry of Mines and
Steel Development said this on Thursday in Obosi when he paid a visit to Igwe
Chidubem Iweka.
“It
will interest you to know that we are at
the verge of setting up a regional court
against illegal mining in the country.
“Once
this court is established,if you are caught engaging in illegal mining,
you will be tried and if convicted, sent to prison,
there will be no option of fine.
“And if you go to prison for two years
for criminal activities, your life is already messed up
and you may never be relevant in the society again,” the minister warned.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the minister noted that the country is blessed with over 25 mineral
deposits that could help change its fortune beyond where it is today.
He regretted that illegal mining
activities and corruption was adversely affecting the country’s economy.
He noted
that while the Federal Government was not stopping anyone from going into
mining activities, the due process should
be followed and mining licences obtained from relevant authorities.
The minister added that royalty should
also be paid to the Federal Government to enable it meet its responsibilities across the federation.
He said the Federal Government had approved a 13 per cent
derivation for
minerals generated from states, like in the oil and gas sector.
The minister added that it was critical to ensure that states got their 13 per cent
derivation and urged the traditional
rulers in the country to help the Federal
Government to restrain their subjects from
illegal mining. Liman Finthra
