The Federal Government has warned illegal miners to immediately vacate all sites in Zamfara, emphasising that all mining activities remain suspended until the release of standard operating procedures to guide the resumption of exploration in the state.
In a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, reacting to news reports of recent lead poisoning in Bugundu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, noted that the ban on mining in the state over the past six years meant there should not have been any reason for lead poisoning.
The Minister stated that the outbreak was evidence that traditional and local institutions had allowed illegal miners to operate in their areas, in flagrant violation of the ban.
“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. 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,” he said.
To mitigate the situation, Dr Alake stated that experts and ministry officials’ reports would recommend specific interventions to prevent future calamities.
Dr Alake commended the government of Zamfara State for deploying emergency services to the affected area and called for greater collaboration between the state and officials of the Ministry.
“We must work together to eliminate 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 added.
The Minister announced that the Ministry would soon release comprehensive standard operating procedures to guide the resumption of mining in Zamfara.
He explained that the procedures would address cases involving existing holders of mining licences and fresh applicants, compliance with community development agreements, and beneficiation and remediation efforts to overhaul the mining sector in the state.
Dr Alake also reiterated that the recent approval of the deployment of satellite technology to monitor mining activities nationwide would put an end to illegal mining and other sharp practices in the sector.
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