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Smoke out illegal miners, FG tells 2,200 new mining marshals

Published

1 month ago

March 22, 2024

Smoke out illegal miners, FG tells 2,200 new mining marshals

The Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, on behalf of the Federal Government, has enlisted 2,220 security personnel to implement a new security strategy aimed at eliminating illegal mining and enforcing mining regulations nationwide.

The Minister, Dele Alake, emphasized the importance of curbing theft and illicit activities surrounding the nation’s mineral resources to ensure optimal utilization of these valuable assets.

The deployment of these specially trained officers, known as the “Mining Marshal Corps,” follows President Bola Tinubu’s establishment of an inter-ministerial committee tasked with devising a comprehensive blueprint for safeguarding the country’s natural resources, including solid minerals, forests, and marine resources.

With a command structure spread across the 36 states and the FCT, the mining marshals will have their command and control domiciled in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, with 60 operatives first deployed in each state of the federation and the FCT.

According to him, the official reception of the marshals will ensure security at mining sites, eliminate illegality, and sanitise mining environments to counter illegal mining and smuggling of solid minerals from Nigeria. He described this as a major success in his seven-point agenda.

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He added that the mining marshals devised to be an inter-agency security outfit will incorporate special operatives from other security agencies like the Nigeria Police, army, amongst others.

Speaking during the event, Alake said, “Insecurity has bedevilled the mineral sector of this economy and it has combined with other variables to short-change revenue generation. So amongst others, the issue of combating insecurity in this sector is very crucial if we are going to record any success. Without the security of the operating environment in the mineral sector, you can’t even talk of increasing the revenue yield. We hope and believe that the minerals will become the revenue saver of the Nigerian economy and we are pursuing the goal of making the mineral sector contribute more than 50 per cent to the gross domestic product and that is our long-term objective.

“Today’s event of launching and formally handing over the civil defence structure to engage illegal miners and sanitise our mining environment was also part of what we conceived at the inter-ministerial committee. I am very happy to let the public know that we did say at the onset that we are going to tackle insecurity and the first batch of the security apparatus that we are using in this is what we are launching here today. The civil defence structure already existed before and we thought that amongst other logistic support that are necessary for the takeoff of the new security architecture for this sector.

“And then in terms of the numbers, we are starting initially with 60 personnel per command. But that is just for the takeoff phase. I have also mentioned that other security agencies will come on board very soon. So the number is going to keep increasing as the need arises. But because we needed to fast track the execution of this policy that’s why this civil defence structure had to be used to execute the mines marshals.”

Smoke out illegal miners, FG tells 2,200 new mining marshals

News

Yahaya Bello: Prosecute US school over advance tuition fee payments, Sowore tells EFCC

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Omoyele Sowore

Yahaya Bello: Prosecute US school over advance tuition fee payments, Sowore tells EFCC

Omoyele Sowore, a prominent Nigerian activist, has called for the prosecution of the American International School (AIS) in Abuja for alleged money laundering involving former Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello and his former Chief of Staff, Ali Bello.

In a post on X, Sowore alleged that Bello and his aide laundered close to $1 million under the guise of paying “future school fees” for their children at AIS.

He argued that similar to the American justice system, the AIS should face charges instead of simply refunding the money.

He further urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure that the school discloses all such payments made by Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs). Sowore believes that investigating such payments could reveal widespread financial misconduct and calls for AIS to be converted into a public school if found guilty.

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His words: “The American International School @AISAbuja , where fugitive former Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello @OfficialGYBKogi and his former Chief of Staff, Ali Bello, laundered close to $ 1 million in the name of paying “future school fees” of their wards should be charged and prosecuted for money laundering instead of being allowed to refund the money.

“This is the way the American justice system treats such cases on US soil, the @officialEFCC must also ensure the school discloses all such school fees paid by Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

“I am sure there are a lot of discoveries that would be uncovered such that the school could be converted to a public school instead of its criminal connivance with financial criminals fleecing the Nigerian public across board, these must necessary apply to these ultra-expensive private schools in Nigeria.”

Yahaya Bello: Prosecute US school over advance tuition fee payments, Sowore tells EFCC

News

Why we praised Aviation minister Keyamo after Dana Air incident – Northern group

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo

Why we praised Aviation minister Keyamo after Dana Air incident – Northern group

The Coalition of Northern Patriots (CNP) has hailed the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, for prioritising the safety and well-being of air travellers.

The group stated this in a statement signed by its president Kudu Mohammed in reaction to the suspension of the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Dana Airlines.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Wednesday, announced the airline’s suspension after its aircraft (MD82 with registration marks 5SN-BKI) skidded off the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos runway.

In reaction, Mohammed said Keyamo is restoring dignity and confidence to the sector with innovative reforms in line with global best practices, always promoting national security interest as a patriot.

Mohammed said in the aviation business that there is no margin for error. Hence, all protocols must be strictly adhered to, and that is what Keyamo has done.

“The suspension of the operations of Dana Airlines is a welcome development,” the statement said. “As we all know, this is the second time within two years that Dana Air’s AOC has been suspended over safety violations.

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“In 2022, the airline’s operation was halted after the outcome of a financial and economic health audit carried out on the airline by the regulatory authority came out negative.

“This time around, though, thankfully, we have an Aviation Minister whose priority is the safety and well-being of travellers unafraid to make painful decisions for the good of the nation.

“We have a man who never compromises and strongly holds on to his principles. Mr Keyamo has already introduced some innovative reforms in line with global best practices. He has carried out a thorough cleansing of the polluted sector he inherited.

“We, therefore, pass a vote of confidence on his leadership. Of course, we are aware that he is not the most-loved minister due to his transparent and resolute approach.

“However, we want to let Mr Keyamo know that the masses are with him.”

The group, therefore, urged him to remain a fearless advocate of the masses and never to allow himself to be silenced by detractors.

Why we praised Aviation minister Keyamo after Dana Air incident – Northern group

News

Fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja, Ondo, Osun, others

Published

3 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja, Ondo, Osun, others

There is no succour yet for motorists and other petrol end users despite the Thursday statement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that it had resolved the logistic problems that sparked the supply crisis.

Reports from across the country yesterday showed that many filling stations had no fuel to sell.

Some sold over and above the threshold of N650 per litre while motorists and other buyers besieged the few ones that sold within the range of N600 per litre.

While many petrol stations in Lagos sold fuel at the normal price and queues were not noticeable, it was a different story in the industrial town of Ota, Ogun State where some filling stations hiked their pump price to N799 per litre.

In Abuja, over 80% of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) retail outlets shut down their operations yesterday, creating an opportunity for a massive black market around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Although the price remained unchanged at N617 per litre at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) filling stations while major marketers sold it for between N680 and N690 per litre, some independent marketers vended the product for as high as N750 per litre.

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Black marketers sold one litre for as much as N1,200 to desperate motorists.

Some drivers who ran out of fuel in hot spot were ready to pay N1,300 per litre just to exit the danger zone.

Meanwhile, there was a sign of hope that the situation would improve at weekend as The Nation could see more retail outlets getting opened to customers at 5:45pm.

Many civil servants who had a tough time returning home from work on Thursday did not bother to turn up at their workplace yesterday.

Epileptic fuel supply in Ondo

The epileptic supply of fuel was no better in Ondo State yesterday with many filling stations also shut down.

The price ranged between N600 and N670 in the few filling stations that opened for business.

Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Ore depot, Shina Amoo, said NNPCL was not selling to IPMAN members.

Amoo said IPMAN members had to resort to buying from third parties at high prices.

He said fuel marketers are shutting down operations in the state due to low or non-profit margin.

Long queues in Enugu

The crisis was characterised by long queues at filling stations in Enugu while the price hovered between N600 and N725 per litre.

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It was N660 in some Total, Enyo, Masters Energy, Rainoil and Northwest filling stations and N660 per liter in NNPC filling stations.

Osun residents, motorists groan as petrol stations hoard fuel

Residents and motorists in Osun State accuse petrol dealers in the state of hoarding and profiteering.

The Nation observed long queues at major marketers petrol stations with price ranging between N625 and N640 per litre.

Independent marketers sold theirs for between N700 and N750.

Human rights activist Comrade Waheed Saka asked the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the State government to check the situation.

A motorist, Saheed Salako, claimed that many of the petrol stations had fuel but refused to sell.

Crisis worsens in Plateau as a litre goes for N800

Many car owners in Jos, the Plateau State capital have been forced by the hike in fuel price to park their vehicles at home.

A litre sold for between N760 and N800 at some filling stations yesterday.

The NNPCL had attributed the tightness in the supply of PMS currently being experienced in some areas across the country to logistics issues but said the issues “have been resolved.”

It urged Nigerians to “avoid panic buying as there is sufficient product in the country.”