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Beware of foreigner miners, FCT warns traditional rulers

Supreme Desk
27 Oct 2021 2:17 PM GMT
Beware of foreigner miners, FCT warns traditional rulers
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She passionately appeal not to open the territory to foreigners in the guise of mining activities.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has cautioned graded traditional rulers in the territory against harbouring any foreigner in the guise of mining activities. The minister issued the warning at the 4th security meeting between the office of the Minister of State, Area Council Chairmen and the FCT Council of Graded Chiefs, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Aliyu, who said habouring any foreigner in the guise of mining activities could lead to security threat, called on the traditional rulers to report any suspicious foreigner within their domain to security agency for profiling. She stated that FCT as the seat of government would continue to guard against the infiltration of illegal miners that could possibly pose security challenges to residents as witnessed in Zamfara and other affected states in the North West region.

The minister revealed that the FCT Administration was collaborating with the Ministry of Mines and Steel to put an embargo on mining activities in the nation's capital.

She reminded the royal fathers that the seat of the Federal Government is there, the fabric of Nigeria existence is there. She passionately appeal not to open the territory to foreigners in the guise of mining activities. She stressed that they might offer the Greek gifts; they would offer to develop communities. It might look golden; they would offer money in exchange for freedom and land. She told them not to accept such offers; rather report such to the security agencies for immediate action. She pleaded with them to save their territory, people and patrimony.

Aliyu stated that the traditional rulers should save their right to live peaceful and coexist, which is better than silver and gold. She appealed to the royal fathers to please watch out and report immediately, any of these activities or any foreign body within your domain. And not to allow what was happening in Zamfara and other states to happen in the seat of government. Responding on behalf of the traditional rulers, Dr Adamu Yunusa, the Chairman of FCT Traditional Council of Chiefs and the Ona of Abaji, commended the minister for coming up with the initiative.

He thanked the minister for the initiative aimed at tackling security challenges in rural communities. He, therefore, pledged the commitment of traditional rulers in ensuring that peace reign in rural areas. The traditional ruler, therefore, urged the FCT Administration to scale up youth employment with a view to reducing crime activities.

Present at the meeting were the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, Director Human Resource Management, Malam Mohamed Bashir and Acting Secretary Area Council Services Secretariat, Mrs Omolola Olanipekun. Others are the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Babaji Sunday, 17 graded Chiefs, Chairmen of Gwagwalada, Bwari, Abaji, Kwali and Kuje area councils amongst others.

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