The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has suggested that the federal government can generate revenue through taxing and royalties on artisanal miners in the country.
Alake who featured in an interview on Channels TV said efforts are being by his ministry made to formalized artisanal mining in the country.
According to him, illegal artisanal miners are encouraged to form themselves into cooperatives, thereby making them bankable and taxable.
He said:
Speaking further, the minister said there were instances whereby some of the accounts of illegal miners in the country have been frozen.
He also said that the government is currently prosecuting some illegal miners in some states they have carried out operations.
According to Alake, the government is working with host communities to identify and illegal miners in the country.
Earlier, TheWitness reported that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the federal government is yet to recover a swooping debt of over N2 trillion from miners and operators in the country.
According to Alake, the current administration led by President Tinubu is committed to stopping the operations of illegal miners throughout the country.
