The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, has called on President Bola Tinubu to tackle illegal mining in the country, which he said was responsible for the loss of billions of dollars annually.
Adams made the call in a statement made available on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, adding that the newly signed electricity reform bill and students’ educational loans were noble initiatives that would guarantee effective power generation, supply, distribution, and engender growth across all sectors.
He said,
“A special revenue generation committee should be established to work on the modalities of the money that can be generated through special tax from multinational companies and other investors in Nigeria. This will reduce crime in the country and also reduce the spate of insecurity.
“This committee should also be empowered to stop illegal mining going on in some parts of the country. From Zamfara to Oyo, Enugu to Kebbi, Osun to Rivers, illegal miners are on the rampage and the government is losing billions of dollars every year.
“It is ridiculous and embarrassing that the majority of these perpetrators are foreigners, backed by some unpatriotic and selfish Nigerians. If this menace can be appropriately and effectively tackled with the use of force and legal sanctions, federal and state governments will be making tens of billions of dollars yearly”.
Adams also urged Tinubu to work out an action plan that will reduce oil theft across the country and prosecute those responsible for it.
“The huge amount that had been going down the drain through oil theft should be checked. The Federal Government can stop this by creating a special tribunal on oil theft and prosecute people perpetrating economic sabotage,” he added.