The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to secure the nation’s natural resources, including solid minerals, forests, and the marine economy.
The presidential inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, held an expanded meeting with service chiefs in Abuja to develop a blueprint for safeguarding these resources.
The committee, established by President Bola Tinubu, aims to create a workable strategy for effectively securing Nigeria’s natural resources.
The meeting with service chiefs, representing various security agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), was a follow-up to the committee’s maiden meeting held last week.
Alake highlighted the comprehensive deliberations during the meeting, emphasizing that decisions were made, and another follow-up meeting would take place.
The security agencies, including service chiefs, the National Security Adviser’s office, and the Inspector-General of Police, would form a smaller committee to provide the framework of execution and execution modalities. This committee is scheduled to meet in another fortnight.
Addressing the tragic Ibadan explosion, Alake reiterated that the federal government awaits the report of ongoing forensic investigations by security agencies before taking necessary actions.
The meeting included key ministers such as the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abass Lawal; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; Minister of Interior, Hon. Tunji Olubunmi-Ojo; and the Minister of Police Affairs (State), Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
Representatives from security agencies included the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi; and representatives of the Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff, among others.
