The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Murtala Mohammed, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining, which continues to strain the country’s resources and environment.
During his first official visit to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), he assured that strict measures would be enforced to curb the menace.
According to him, no individual or group would be spared in the crackdown, regardless of political affiliation. He emphasized that the government has granted full authority to his ministry to deal decisively with those violating environmental laws.
To ensure a comprehensive approach, he stressed the need for collaboration among key government institutions.
He pointed out that tackling illegal mining requires collaborative efforts involving the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Defence, Local Government, and Chieftaincy, as well as the Ministry of the Interior due to security concerns. He also highlighted the role of the Attorney General in prosecuting offenders.
Beyond enforcement, the Minister indicated that alternative methods would be explored to restore lands degraded by illegal mining. This, he said, would help mitigate the financial burden on the state and promote sustainable land use.
