The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, recently made claims about illegal mining operations in the country, stating that the arrest and prosecution of illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals, were things that never happened a year before the current administration assumed power.
Alake stated, “Today, I am happy to announce to you that just within some few weeks of operation, the mine marshals have been able to apprehend over a hundred or two hundred illegal operators in the country. As we speak here, over a hundred and thirty-two of such persons are undergoing prosecution right now. In fact, only about a week ago, two foreign nationals were jailed as a result of conducting illegal operations. These were things that never happened a year ago and they are happening now. That is to tell you that our Renewed Hope Agenda is working and will continue to work.”
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However, a fact-check conducted by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) revealed that Alake’s claim is false.
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“The CDD War Room found multiple media reports showing arrests and prosecution of illegal miners, including foreign nationals between 2022 and 2023, long before the launch of the mine marshals by the Tinubu administration,” the CDD stated.
The fact-check cited several instances of arrests and prosecutions of illegal miners, including foreign nationals, before the creation of the mine marshals:
In January 2022, the Nigeria Police arrested three Chinese and 18 others over illegal mining in Nasarawa State.
In January 2022, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested six illegal miners in Edo state.
In October 2022, a Chinese national, arrested in September, was sentenced to five years imprisonment in Ilorin, Kwara state over illegal mining.
In March 2023, a father of six was jailed for 12 months in Kwara state over illegal mining.
In July 2023, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arrested 13 Chinese nationals for illegal mining activities in Kwara.
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The CDD’s verification process involved checking for reports of arrests and prosecutions of illegal miners, including foreign nationals, between 2022 and 2023, ahead of the creation of the mine marshals.
The multiple media reports cited by the CDD contradict Alake’s claim that such arrests and prosecutions never happened before the current administration took office.
Based on the evidence presented, the CDD War Room has rated the Minister’s claim as “False,” highlighting the importance of fact-checking and holding public officials accountable for their statements.
