Illegal MiningThe Federal Government has concluded arrangement to deploy 3, 000 personnel of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) across the mining sites in the country to curb illegal mining operations.

The Kwara State Commandant of the NSCDC, Augustine Obiekwe, while inaugurating the 100 Personnel Unit of the state, gave the assurance that efforts would be made to safeguard the mining sites in the state.

He also urged the newly inaugurated Solid Minerals Defenders Unit to put in their best in the national assignment.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi in a recent outing in Ilorin, announced that his ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Interior to provide security around the mining sites in the country.

The action, he said is necessary to safeguard the solid minerals across the states from illegal miners.

While inaugurating the Special Unit, Mr Obiekwe said the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two ministries - Solid Minerals and Interior - informed the establishment of the unit. He charged the men to be dedicated in guiding the solid mineral sites in the state.

He also noted that the fight against unauthorized and unlicensed mining activities should be the responsibility of all.

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Solid Minerals, Shehu Abdulrahman, explained that efforts are ongoing to register miners in the state to weed out illegal miners.