The minister of solid minerals development, Kayode Fayemi, at the weekend ordered the immediate recall of all federal mines officers in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a statement by Yinka Oyebode, his special assistant on media, the minister said that the development became necessary as part of measures to strengthen the institutional capacity of the ministry to cooperate with the nation’s security agencies in ensuring the safety of lives and property in the country, as well as that of the natural environment.
The development came barely 24 hours after the ministry blacklisted and withdrew explosives licences of a mining company based in Koko, Delta State for illegal diversion of explosives.
Accordingly, all the affected officers are to report to the ministry headquarters in Abuja for further directives on their next assignments.
Letters to this effect have been dispatched to the state and zonal offices of the ministry nationwide.
Fayemi said the ministry will not leave any stone unturned in the bid to reposition the sector for effective service delivery, and to actualize the economic diversification and job creation goals of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
“In the pursuit of our mandate to deepen the productivity of the mining industry, we will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to guarantee that the security of lives and property, as well as safety of the environment is not compromised”, he said.
