The Federal Government has issued a 30-day ultimatum to illegal miners to desist from such activities in the country.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, explained that all efforts to formalize unlicensed miners into cooperatives have proved abortive.

He further stated that the ministry will review all mining licenses in the country as part of its transformation agenda.

Other transformation agenda listed out by the minster are formation of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Cooperation, joint ventures with mining multinationals, setting up of mine police/task force, generation of data for solid minerals in Nigeria.