There will be a centre like a screen in the operation centre, the mines martial centre, and in my office as well.
During the third meeting of the year, which took place on Monday, the Federal Executive Council gave its approval to the purchase of a satellite device that will cost N2.5 billion. This will be used to combat illegal mining in the country.
This was said by Mr. Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, during a briefing presented to State House Correspondents following the meeting of the Federal Executive Council.
Specifically, he stated that the technology was an integrated solution framework that was designed to tackle mining activities that were not licensed, regulated, or disclosed.
Alake stated that the use of the technology would put a stop to activities that had resulted in the loss of money, unlawful operations, and the illegal mining and exploitation of the country’s minerals.
Alake said, “We are procuring satellite equipment, satellite gadgets that will be installed in strategic places all over the country that would enable us to have a visual effect, real-time of the operations that are ongoing in sites all over the country.
“There will be a centre like a screen in the operation centre, the mines martial centre, and in my office as well.
“At a glance, at the click of a button, you can surf any mine site and see the operations there; the volume of the mineral extracted, the number of trucks going out, and, of course, the security situation in the environment.”
The technology was deployed by Alake’s ministry as part of a two-pronged campaign to tackle unlawful mining, according to Alake.
It was stated by him that upon taking over the ministry, a two-pronged approach was implemented, which included both persuasive and coercive techniques.
According to Alake, the technique for persuasion consisted on appealing to the sense of responsibility that artisanal miners had in order to encourage them to create cooperatives.
In his statement, he stated that the ministry had been successful in convincing the artisanal and illegal miners to establish more than 300 cooperative societies.
According to Alake, the second strategy, which is known as the coercive strategy, is intended for individuals who are resistant to the persuasive method and do not submit to its influence.
“When they form cooperatives, they become structured, formalised and legalised, and their operation can now add some value to the nation.
“When they form cooperatives they become bankable. They can even have access to financial institutions to procure loans to expand their businesses.
“And of course, it means they have to pay their obligations to the Nigerian state.
“We used the coercive measure, and that is epitomised by the Mining Marshalls that we established.
“To date, we have arrested, apprehended, prosecuted and convicted illegal operators, including foreigners,” Alake added.