In an interview with Symfoni TV, Nigeria’s National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has taken to the airwaves to express his outrage over what he describes as “double standards” in the government’s approach to illegal mining and oil bunkering.
According to Oshiomhole, there is a stark contrast in the way the federal government handles the two illicit activities. While those involved in oil bunkering are met with ruthlessness, including the deployment of security forces, those involved in illegal mining seem to be allowed to operate with relative impunity.
“In Nigeria, hardly any part of Nigeria doesn’t have solid minerals, even in the South-South,” Oshiomhole stated. “But when it comes to illegal mining of solid minerals, the federal government changes its approach.” He went on to lament, “If we have to fight and deploy the Army to kill anyone involved in illegal bunkering of oil, why are we allowing illegal mining in many parts of the country to go on?”
The APC leader also claimed that retired generals and individuals with significant influence are behind the illicit activities. Citing a personal experience, Oshiomhole recalled a conversation with a retired general who alleged that those involved in illegal mining were using Choppers, procuring arms, and evading taxes.
“He told me that these guys use Choppers; they procure arms exactly the same way our military personnel in the South-South used to do, to cut away the gold and take it out of the country, and make billions of US Dollars,” Oshiomhole said.
The APC Chairman expressed frustration that the federal government was not taking decisive action to curb the illegal activities, which he claimed were being carried out by “illegal big men” who employed foreigners to do the mining work.
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