The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the procurement of N2.5 billion worth of satellite technology aimed at tackling illegal mining activities in Nigeria. The approval was made during the FEC’s third meeting of the year on Monday.
Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, made the announcement while addressing State House correspondents after the meeting. He explained that the satellite technology is part of a comprehensive solution designed to address unlicensed, unregulated, and underreported mining operations across the country.
Alake emphasized that the new technology would help curb the illegal mining activities that have led to revenue losses, unregulated operations, and the unlawful extraction and exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
“We are procuring satellite equipment and devices that will be installed in key locations across the country,” Alake said. “These will enable us to monitor mining sites in real time. We will have a central operations center, the Mines Marshal Center, and my office all connected, where we can instantly view mining sites, track the volume of minerals extracted, monitor the number of trucks leaving, and assess the security situation at the sites.”
The minister outlined a two-pronged strategy to address illegal mining. The first approach is persuasive, encouraging artisanal miners to form cooperatives. He noted that when miners join cooperatives, they become formalized, legal, and more structured, which in turn allows them to contribute positively to the nation’s economy.
“When miners form cooperatives, they become bankable, and they can access financial institutions for loans to expand their businesses. This also means they are obliged to meet their responsibilities to the Nigerian state,” Alake explained.
The minister added that over 300 cooperative societies have already been established under this initiative. For those who resist this approach, the ministry has implemented a more coercive strategy, exemplified by the Mining Marshalls. “We have arrested, apprehended, prosecuted, and convicted illegal operators, including foreigners,” Alake stated.