The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to illegal miners in Zamfara State, urging them to vacate all mining sites immediately as the ban on mining activities in the state remains in force.
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This was made known by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, in reaction to reports of a recent lead poisoning outbreak in Bugundu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
He stressed that mining operations in Zamfara have been suspended for the past six years, and as such, there should be no legitimate mining activity in the area.
Dr. Alake attributed the outbreak to the failure of local and traditional authorities to enforce the ban, accusing them of turning a blind eye to illegal mining operations in their communities.
“Every citizen should obey the laws and regulations established by constituted authorities. Our revered traditional institutions and local authorities, which are funded from the federation accounts, have an even higher responsibility to enforce government directives,” he said.
“However, where they demonstrate wilful negligence and abdicate their responsibilities, they perpetrate a state of anomie with dire consequences, as we are witnessing in this case,” the Minister added.
He revealed that the Ministry is currently awaiting a detailed report from experts and ministry officials, which will provide recommendations on interventions to prevent future occurrences.
Dr. Alake commended the Zamfara State Government for deploying emergency response services to the affected area, while calling for stronger collaboration between the state and federal authorities to combat illegal mining activities.
“We must work together to kick out illegal miners from all corners to protect the lives of innocent citizens endangered by the desperation of a few individuals to make money at all costs,” he stated.
He further disclosed that the Ministry will soon unveil comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guide the eventual resumption of mining in Zamfara State. These SOPs will address issues related to existing license holders, new applicants, compliance with community development agreements, and remediation efforts.
Dr. Alake also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deploying satellite technology to monitor mining operations across the country, a move he said will help curb illegal activities and sanitise the sector.
The recent poisoning incident has drawn national attention to the dangers of unregulated mining and the urgent need for enforcement and reform in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
