The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has urged relevant local authorities nationwide to increase surveillance to monitor and curb illegal mining activities within their jurisdiction.

Mr Alake made the call in a statement by his special assistant on media, Segun Tomori, on Thursday in Abuja.

This is in response to the recent pit collapse that occurred during illegal mining operations in Gashaka-Gumti National Park.

At least 22 miners were reportedly dead after an illegal mining pit collapsed in the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, which spans Adamawa and Taraba.

“To forestall a recurrence, local government authorities should pay more attention to illegal mining activities within their areas,” he said.

He said the local authorities should work with the state offices of the ministry to ensure they are aligned with the early warning systems put in place to combat illegal mining.

He also urged more collaboration between stakeholders in the solid minerals sector and the National Parks Service to address the menace and curb incidents of mine collapses.

According to the minister, technical reports from field inspections indicate that the lack of professional skills in mine development by artisanal miners engaging in illegal mining is responsible for the pit collapses.

He said defaulters should stop risking their lives in search of minerals and instead form mining cooperatives to become legal entities.

The minister added that after establishing the cooperatives, they should approach the ministry for assistance in obtaining mining licences and permits to operate legally.

He said the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, along with extant regulations, outlaws mineral exploration in national parks as it endangers the virgin forests, plants, and wildlife being preserved by the federal government.

According to Mr Alake, the ministry and the management of the National Parks Service have discussed the terms of collaboration to stop mining in the parks.

He urged the officers of the National Parks Service to report any case of mineral extraction to the nearest Federal Mines Officer for immediate action.

(NAN)