FG Set To Deploys Satellite Technology to Crush Illegal Mining, Approves N2.5bn for Surveillance

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a N2.5 billion budget for the procurement of satellite technology to track, monitor, and eliminate illegal mining operations across Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, during a briefing with State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Alake explained that the satellite system would be deployed to strategic locations across the country to provide real-time visual surveillance of mining sites. The move is aimed at curbing the rampant illegal extraction of Nigeria's vast mineral resources, which has led to trillions of naira in losses over the years.

"With this technology, we will be able to track mineral extraction, monitor truck movements, and assess security conditions at mine sites from a central command center,ÔÇØ Alake stated.

According to him, the technology will revolutionize mining regulation by allowing authorities to identify and shut down illegal activities instantly. He noted that the government's approach to illegal mining has been two-pronged: persuasive and coercive.

The minister emphasized that while the government has encouraged artisanal miners to form cooperatives, with over 300 legalized mining groups now in operation, a more forceful approach is necessary for those who refuse to comply.

"To combat illegal operations, we have established mining marshals tasked with apprehending and prosecuting offenders. Once these miners become legal, they will be able to access financial institutions for loans, expand their businesses, and contribute significantly to the national economy,ÔÇØ Alake added.

He revealed that 320 illegal miners have been arrested, with 150 currently facing prosecution. Out of these, nine individuals have been convicted, including four foreign nationals who were found guilty of illegal mining activities.

Alake also expressed concerns over state governments' interference in mining activities, stressing that mining is on the exclusive legislative list and should be regulated by the federal government.

"There have been cases where states interfere in mining activities without consulting the federal government. If an infraction occurs, governors must consult the federal authorities before taking action,ÔÇØ he said, adding that his ministry is collaborating with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Ministry of Defence to clamp down on illegal operations.

The minister described the scale of losses from unregulated mining activities as "mind-boggling,ÔÇØ stating that trillions of naira have been lost due to underreporting and illegal extractions.

"A very elementary, non-scientific estimate we conducted in 2023 after assuming office revealed that the country has lost trillions of naira to illegal mining. Instead of asking how much Nigeria has gained from gold mining, one should ask how much the nation has lost. It is humongous and unprecedented,ÔÇØ he lamented.

To mitigate these losses, the federal government is working closely with state governments to create special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to encourage formal participation in mining while reducing conflicts between federal and state authorities.

Alake assured Nigerians that the satellite surveillance system will be fully deployed within the next month, enhancing monitoring efforts and blocking revenue leakages.

"This initiative will allow us to track mining operations even in remote areas, ensuring that all extracted minerals are accounted for and that illegal operations are brought to a halt,ÔÇØ he said.

The implementation of this high-tech surveillance is expected to curb illegal mining, protect Nigeria's natural resources, and boost revenue generation for the federal government.

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