Ministry Seeks EFCC Support in Ending Illegal Mining

Ministry Seeks EFCC Support in Ending Illegal Mining

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 played host to staff of the Ministry of Mines, Steel and Development, Enugu zone at the Enugu Zonal Office of the Commission.

The delegation, led by Engr. Ewa Fredrick, Assistant Director, Mines and the Zonal Mines Officer coordinating the South-East Zone commended the Commission for their support.

“I want to appreciate the cordial relationship existing between us and the EFCC. Our visit is to synergize and further solidify our relationship,” he said.
Ewa also solicited for the Commission’s support in stamping out illegal mining in the South-East and particularly in Enugu State.
He lamented how indigenes of the state mine illegally, adding that it has resulted in many set-backs, thus denying the Federal Government the royalties due it, and thereby, reducing the revenue which the industry should have generated.

He further noted that the Federal Government does not extract the minerals without the consent of the land owners and the community.
“Compensations are also paid to the individual owner of the land and the community too” he said.

In his response, Head of South-East Zone of the EFCC, Usman Imam, thanked the delegation and assured them of the Commission’s continuous support.
His words: “There is an existing inter-agency task force which sits at your office. I want to assure you of our support and also suggest that members of this task force be trained so that they will carry out their duties effectively and efficiently.”

Imam also suggested that the inter-agency task force be domiciled in the EFCC and that sister agencies like the Nigerian Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC be involved in the stamping out the activities of illegal miners.