The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, says the Mining Marshals (MM), a security unit established by the ministry in 2024 to secure mining sites, is facing blackmail over its clampdown efforts.

Mr Alake stated this at the Ministerial Retreat organised for his ministry and its parastatals on Friday in Abuja.

The ongoing two-day retreat, from July 11 to 12, is themed “Enhancing Performance, Strengthening Accountability, and Fostering Innovation in the Solid Minerals Sector.”

He stated that he had received several reports from operators alleging that the marshals were involved in corrupt practices, but noted that the claims were unsubstantiated and intended only to frustrate their efforts.

“The efforts that we have made so far in curbing or spreading the tide of insecurity and illegal mining operations are facing serious pushback from those who are benefiting from the various activities.

“For instance, the Mining Marshals that we created, who are recording serious successes, are being blackmailed,” he said.

He added that unless there was concrete evidence of misconduct or misdemeanour, he remained resolute and would not be swayed by any form of inducement or blackmail to remove the head of the unit.

According to him, the ministry is addressing the issue of multiple regulatory funds in the mining sector.

He warned that he had already informed the president about the issue and secured his full backing to take a tough stance, stating that further developments would be announced in the days and weeks ahead.

The minister noted that there were discrepancies surrounding the letter of consent required from landowners for investors to qualify for a licence.

He said the consents were often disputed by certain family members or sections of the community, which had become a sore point, discouraging investors and clouding the entire operating environment.

Mr Alake explained that he was informed that the letter of consent contradicts the constitution, which states that any land where minerals are mined becomes the property of the federal government.

To find a solution to the issue, he said he would consult with key stakeholders and the Joint Committees on Solid Minerals in the National Assembly.

According to Mr Alake, the ministry is excelling in its seven-point agenda and workforce performance, and has been rated the best by the Office of the Head of Service.

He added that on June 28, the ministry was awarded Best Ministry in Service Excellence, while two staff members received the Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible, and Citizen-Centred (EPIC) Award and the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award, respectively.

He listed other achievements of the ministry, such as adopting the PARC reporting code, driving value addition in Africa, and the kickoff of the Nigerian Mining Corporation’s operations with Martins Imonitie as the chief executive.

Mr Alake added that the organisation would soon be formally inaugurated and had been structured to be privately driven.

In his remarks, Ekong Sampson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, described the retreat’s theme as timely and aligned with the Senate’s vision to drive economic diversification and increase the nation’s GDP.

Similarly, the chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Jonathan Gaza, urged the workforce to build on the ministry’s achievements by being accountable and innovative in harnessing the sector’s resources.

(NAN)