By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, said the newly-deployed 37 mines officers attached to states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, would be held responsible for future diversion of explosives to unauthorised persons.

The warning was contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Olayinka Oyebode.

He also said the Ministry had partnered with other government agencies, including the ministries of Environment, Health, Interior and all security agencies, host state governments, traditional institutions and community leaders, to ensure security and environmental safety.

The statement read: “The searchlight of the Ministry, the law enforcement agencies and other accountability institutions will be beamed on you and you can rest assured that any officer found to have sabotaged the country in any form shall be summarily dealt with.

“An often neglected aspect of your job is the need to ensure that all monthly explosives returns and quarries returns submitted by the operators are checked and confirmed that such returns provide answers to the question contained there-in.”