*Photo: Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake (2nd left) welcoming the UNODC delegation led by Mr. Tom Parker(2nd right )*
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake on Monday received a delegation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), led by Mr. Tom Parker, to discuss a partnership between the Federal Government and the agency.
The initiative is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to detect, investigate, and prosecute financial crimes linked to conflict and terrorism, particularly those associated with the solid minerals sector.
During the meeting, the UNODC team commended the measures already taken by the Ministry, especially the establishment of the Mining Marshals, which they regard as a significant step toward addressing illegal mining.
Since their deployment, the Marshals have been active in arresting and prosecuting illegal miners.
Reflecting on this development and the meeting with UNODC officials, the Minister in a post on his verified social media handle said “Encouragingly, we are already seeing a shift, as many operators are now working to regularise their activities and comply with the law.
“In addition, the President has approved the deployment of a satellite-based monitoring system to enhance the surveillance of mining operations. This will allow us to identify incidents in real time and ensure timely intervention by security personnel.
“We welcome the support of the UNODC in this critical effort. Strengthening our institutional capacity to combat illicit financial flows and criminal activity in the mining sector is essential to protecting Nigeria’s natural resources and national security.”
