Gov't requests official complaints against taskforce on illegal mining

Government says it is waiting for formal complaints against the Presidential Taskforce on illegal mining from companies alleging corruption and destruction of equipment, before any action can be taken.

Some mining companies have alleged their equipments have been destroyed and in some cases seized since the taskforce began its work some weeks ago.

Others have also accused some district chief executives of extortion.

However, Deputy Information Minister, Murtala Mohammed told Joy News affected persons must first file official complaints to enable government take action.

He said the inter-ministerial committee on illegal mining has not received any official complaints about the allegation of abuse of its powers.

“If we hear complains about the taskforce on the radio...I don’t think that the [government] could just go chasing [these] complains that people make,” he stated.

He has assured that once the complaints are made by the small scale miners and other affected persons, investigations would begin.