The federal government has unveiled plans to create a task force against illegal miners.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this on Sunday while unveiling the Agenda for Transformation of Solid Minerals for International Competitiveness and Domestic Prosperity in Abuja.
He said illegal miners have been given a 30-day grace period to join artisanal corporations.
Alake also said that the government will create six Mineral Processing centres to add value to the products and boost revenue generation.
He said: “Also, a 30-day grace had been given to illegal miners to join artisanal cooperatives. The Agenda will create a mines surveillance task force, and mines police, and a comprehensive review of all mining licences. It will create six mineral processing centres to focus on value-added products.”
Alake was among the 45 ministers President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave marching orders to revive Nigeria’s economy two weeks ago.