Alleged $9bn loss: Private jet owners aid gold smuggling — Ogah
By Tobi Adetunji
The Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development , has accused private jet owners of aiding gold smuggling in the country. He made the allegation, although was silent on the identities of the jet owners.
He made the declaration at an investigative hearing on alleged loss of $9 billion annually by the Federal Government to illegal mining and gold smuggling.
The hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy, also called for capital punishment for offenders.
“Gold smuggling in Nigeria is often done using private jets, the very reason why private jets ownership and operations, need to be streamlined in the country,” Ogah said, noting that illegal mining began in the 1980s as a result of the indiginisation policy of the military regime in the late 1970s.
The menace, he explained, was prompted by the inability of indigenous workers to obtain mineral mining titles and required technology for mining used by the British miners before the indiginisation policy.
He lamented further that gold smuggling and illegal mining which is depriving the country of humongous revenue annually have continued to thrive due to connivance by security agencies with illegal miners, host communities’ collaboration, low level of application of technology and negative mindsets of Nigerians to Nigeria.
The minister said, “For these crimes to be fought decisively, potent punitive measure like capital punishment, need to be applied through amendments to relevant mining laws.”
He, however, added that the menace can be tackled proactively through the establishment of Mines Police, Special Courts or Tribunals to try offenders, adequate funding for the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and a reorientation to impart positive mindsets in Nigerians towards the country.
Ogah said, “The crux of the matter is for us to be Nigerian by seeing ourselves as Nigerians in all circumstances.
“Doing this will make us see mineral resources in our communities as collective wealth of all Nigerians that must not be illegally exploited by anybody within or from outside the country.”
Speaking in the same vein, a member of the Committee, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, alleged that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has made smuggling an easy vocation in Nigeria.
The Osun East senator accused the apex bank of aiding smuggling through its lopsided and selective policy on making foreign exchange available to Nigerians.
Fadahunsi said, “Gold smuggling and illegal mining are carried out by political elites and not just the poor masses at the illegal mining sites.
“Categories of Nigerians at the top – from political office holders, politicians, traditional rulers, top security officials, etc, are involved in gold smuggling and illegal mining in one way or the other.
“The poor ones are doing it on behalf of the big ones.”
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, said for a thorough investigation of the menace and the way forward, heads of relevant government agencies would be invited to appear before the committee.
Al-Makura listed the agencies to be invited to include: CBN, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
However, efforts to get reaction from EFCC officials prove abortive as at the time of filing this report.
