According to a statement from the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, the Federal Government is emphasizing the importance of biometric data capture for registered artisanal and small-scale miners to curb illegal mining and smuggling in Nigeria.

The ministry is prioritizing these operators to combat the persistent illegalities in the subsector, according to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite.

 Adegbite also mentioned that the ministry has initiated and supported biometric data capturing of all registered artisanal and small-scale miners across the country to minimize illegal mining and smuggling, increase government revenue, create jobs, and improve environmental and social stewardship.

 Furthermore, the minister stated that creating a gemstone market will ensure the diversification of the national economic base of Nigeria.

The ministry has designed six strategic ASM Cluster Projects to harness the potentials of the over three million Artisanal and Small Scale Mining operators in the country, and the creation of an international Gemstone Market in Ibadan for the Southwest Zone is one of such projects. 

Adegbite believes that these landmark projects will create an enabling environment to support the mining industry through the formalization of the ASM sub-sector as a major driver of the key growth parameters to engender the development of the mining sector, as over 90% of the mining activities in the country could safely be said to be ASM driven.

source; the punch
link;https://punchng.com/fg-drives-biometric-tech-to-stop-illegal-mining/