FOLLOWING the explosion that rocked Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, recently, as a result of illegal storage of mining explosives in residential areas and as part of frantic efforts of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to restore sanity in the country’s mining sector, the technical committee charged by the Federal Government to set up a joint task force convened on Tuesday, January 30 in Abuja at the instance of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to address the challenges posed by illegal mining in the country.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRP), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the meeting, which was held at the Police Force Headquarters, had in attendance representatives from the Armed Forces, Police, NSCDC, Ministries of Solid Minerals, as well as Environment, and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The mandate of the proposed task force, Adejobi explained, is multifaceted and aimed at curbing illegal mining activities perpetrated by both Nigerians and foreigners.
Key objectives include enhancing security in mining areas; enforcing mining laws; ensuring proper warehousing and monitoring of explosives and advancing environmental sustainability in mining operations.
