The Adamawa State Ministry for Solid Minerals is seeking a strong partnership with the Nigeria Police Force to clamp down on illegal and unregistered mining activities within the state.

The Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Hon. Haruna Ibrahim, made this call during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo F. Morris, at the Police Headquarters on Monday. 

Hon. Ibrahim emphasised the urgent need for collaboration to identify and sanitise the operations of unregistered miners in the state.

“It is high time for the ministry to visit and seek a partnership with the police in order to extend their operations towards identifying unregistered miners operating in the state,” Hon. Ibrahim stated. 

He highlighted the global shift from hydrocarbons to solid minerals, noting that Adamawa State is rich in these resources, which could significantly boost the state’s revenue if properly managed. 

He urged the police to maintain a close watch on those operating without the necessary permits.

Responding to the request, CP Dankombo F. Morris expressed his appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner for recognising the crucial role of the police in this matter. He described the visit as “timely”, reiterating the police’s core mandate of protecting lives and properties.

CP Dankombo revealed a concerning trend of individuals engaging in mining activities in the state without proper authorisation. 

“I have discovered that the process of mining is being abused in the state because of the fact that many people are trooping into the state for mining activities without a licence,” he noted. 

He further explained that while some miners possess licences from the federal government, they often fail to engage with the state government through the relevant ministry to follow due process before commencing operations.

CP Dankombo also stressed the critical need for synergy and collaboration between the ministry and the police to “bring sanity into the way and manner miners are operating in the state”.