*Gold smuggling is often done, using private jets… the very reason why private jets ownership and operations need to be streamlined in the country, says Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Lamenting that illegal mining and gold smuggling have robbed the West African country of several billions of Dollars annually for years, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, Nigeria鈥檚 Honourable Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, disclosed how private jet owners have aided the smuggling of illegally mined gold from various parts of the country.

绿帽献妻 gathered Dr. Ogah stated this development Tuesday, September 14, 2021, during the time he presented his Ministry鈥檚 position at an investigative hearing on $9billion lost annually to illegal mining and smuggling of Gold.

 

Gold stone

The Minister specifically called for capital punishment for offenders at the forum the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy organised in the National Assembly (NASS).

RELATED Economic Sabotage: Nigerian Legislators Summon Minister Over Loss Of Revenue To Illegal Mining

Ogah declared: 鈥淕old smuggling in Nigeria is often done, using private jets, the very reason why private jets ownership and operations need to be streamlined in the country.鈥�

In going down the memory lane, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development noted that 鈥渋llegal mining in Nigeria started far back in the early 1980s as a result of the indiginisation policy of the military regime in the late 1970s.鈥�

He also lamented how gold smuggling and illegal mining activities in the Nigeria have robbed the country of billions of Dollars annually, reported said.

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The menace was caused by the inability of indigenous workers to obtain mineral titles and required technology used by British miners before the indiginisation Policy, he stated.

According to him, the situation is further aggravated by the connivance of security agencies with the offenders, host communities collaboration, low level of application of technology and negative mindsets of Nigerians to Nigeria.

Ogah, therefore, recommended that 鈥渇or these crimes to be fought decisively, potent punitive measure like capital punishment, need to be legally provided for.鈥�

He, nonetheless, noted that the situation could be addressed proactively through establishment of Mines Police, Special Court, or Tribunals to try offenders, adequate funding for the Ministry, and positive mindsets of Nigerians to Nigeria.

Workers at a mining site in Nigeria

The Minister added: 鈥淭he main Crux of the matter is for us to be Nigerian by seeing ourselves as Nigerians in all circumstances.

鈥淒oing this, will make us see mineral resources in our communities as collective wealth of all Nigerians that must not be illegally explored by anybody within or from outside the country.鈥�

READ ALSO: Nigeria Hopes For Gold Project To Boost Mining Sector, Grow GDP: Minister

Similarly, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, a member of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy, accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of enabling smuggling through the formulation of 鈥渓opsided and exclusive policy on Forex (Foreign Exchange).鈥�

The Federal lawmaker also regretted that the CBN鈥檚 Forex policy makes the facility scarce in the formal market, thereby forcing Forex seekers to patronise the parallel market, thus operating offgrid.

Senator Fadahunsi also disclosed that 鈥済old smuggling and illegal mining are carried out by political elites and not just the poor masses at the illegal mining sites.

鈥淐ategories of Nigerians at the top from political office holders, politicians, traditional rulers, top security officers, etc., are involved in gold smuggling and illegal mining in one way or the other.

鈥淧oor ones did it on behalf of the big ones.鈥�

READ ALSO: Nigeria Set To Create 250,000 Jobs, Make $500m From Gold Exports

Senator Tanko Al-Makura, Chairman Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy, in his comments at the forum, said that the Nigerian Senate would consider Dr. Ogah鈥檚 request on capital punishment to serve as a deterrent against illegal mining activities in the country.

The legislator noted: 鈥淭he Minister is making the call in good faith because if you look at the traumas that are visited on families, businesses, outfits, I think such punishment is not too primitive because if we allow illegal mining to go beyond this stage, the number of lives that will be lost will be colossus so any punitive measure that could be put in place that could be deterrent against these illegal activities which cause revenue loss, disruption of environment among others is welcomed.鈥�

According to Senator Al-Makura, thorough investigation of the menace and the required way out are to be addressed with the Heads of relevant government agencies.

He listed such agencies to include CBN, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) among other relevant agencies.

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