Defence, Solid Minerals Ministries Partner To Secure Mining Fields

By Geaorgina Humphrey

Ministry of Defence and Solid Minerals Development is to partner in securing the mining fields across the country.

Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru made this known during a visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake in Abuja.

Alhaji Badaru explained that the aim of the collaboration was to make the sector realize its goal of contributing substantially to the gross domestic product and increase revenue to the government coffers.

”The purpose of the visit is to discuss how we can provide security in mining areas, we are working to provide Security on the farms; as well as provide Security in the mining sector, to make the country earn the much needed foreign currency; mining sector is critical to help rejuvenate the economy”.he added

Speaking on creating mining police by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Minister of Defence lauded the concept and promised the neccessary support from the military.

”We have to clear the territory as military to ensure safety. When the Mining Police come, they can take it up from there and continue to provide security in those mining areas”. The defence minister stressed.

Responding, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake reaffimed the need to secure the minerals sector to attract both local and foreign operators.

“I have been saying it, even to foreign and local investors that we need to secure our mineral sector, so that the operators both local and foreign can have a free atmosphere to operate, so that we can derive maximum benefits from these God given resources.

“And I have been saying it that I am working in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence, inter- military agencies are involved, all the security architecture that we are reinvigorating.” Alake stated.

The minister of Defence was accompanied by the Minister of State Defence Alhaji Bello Matawalle.

Edited By Grace Namiji