Lead poisoning: Alake orders illegal miners out of Zamfara
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.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, gave this warning on Tuesday, following reports of recent lead poisoning in Bugundu Local Government Area of the state.
Alake, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, 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.
He said, “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.”
To mitigate the situation, experts and ministry officials’ reports will recommend specific interventions enabling us to stave off future calamities, he stated.
Dr. Alake commended the government of Zamfara State for deploying emergency services to the area and called for more collaboration between the state and officials of the ministry in the state.
He added, “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 procedures, he explained, shall address cases of 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.
He 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.
In December 2024, the government lifted a five-year ban on mining exploration, infected by banditry and illegal mining operations in Zamfara State.
The move was made following significant improvement in the security situation in the state. Sequel to this, Alake explained that a committee was formed to draft a standard operating procedure specifically for mining operations in the state.
