Federal Government has issued a fresh warning to illegal miners to immediately vacate all sites in Zamfara, putting on hold all mining activities until it releases the standard operating procedures guidelines.
It gave the warning in reaction to the a recent news reports of lead poisoning in Bugundu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dr Dele Alake said due to the ban on mining in the state in the last six years there had not been no news of lead poisoning.
The Minister therefore believed the outbreak was an evidence that traditional and local institutions 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”
He stated that, to mitigate the situation, experts and ministry officials’ reports will recommend specific interventions to enable government steerr off future calamities.
Dr. Alake commended the government of Zamfara State for deploying emergency services to the area and called for more collaboration between the State and Ministry officials .
His words: “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. ”
The Minister announced that the Ministry will soon release comprehensive standard operating procedures to guide the resumption of mining in Zamfara.
The Minister also reiterated that the recent approval of the deployment of satellite technology to monitor mining nationwide will put an end to illegal mining and other sharp practices in the sector.
