The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has granted approval to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development for the procurement and installation of satellite surveillance equipment across Nigeria, The Bureau Newspaper has gathered.
Reliable sources within the Ministry revealed that the initiative aims to monitor and secure mineral deposit sites, curbing illegal and unregulated mining activities.
Curbing Revenue Leakages and Illegal Mining
Findings by The Bureau Newspaper indicate that the absence of strong policies and surveillance has contributed to:
- Revenue leakages from unregulated extraction.
- Illegal mining operations by local and foreign actors.
- Smuggling and underreporting of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
Government’s Strategy: From Persuasion to Enforcement
Investigations show that to regularize artisanal mining, the government had encouraged illegal miners to form cooperative groups, offering them a legal framework to operate.
- Over 300 cooperative societies have now been fully registered and are contributing to the national economy.
- However, sources confirmed that those refusing to comply would face strict enforcement measures under the new FEC-approved strategy.
Use of Technology for Efficient Monitoring
Despite recent crackdowns—including the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of some illegal miners, including foreigners—The Bureau Newspaper gathered that the Ministry believes advanced technology is necessary for effective enforcement.
With satellite surveillance now approved, authorities will deploy real-time monitoring systems to track illegal activities and safeguard Nigeria’s solid mineral resources.