By: TUNDE BOLAJI – MINNA.
The Ministry of Mineral Resources in the state of Nigeria has again embarked on a comprehensive monitoring and inspection exercise targeting illegal mining sites within the state capital, particularly in the Chanchaga community.
The inspection team was led by the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Alhaji Garba Sabo Yahaya, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary and the Directors of the ministry.
Among the troubled Sites visited at the first location inspected was Tungan Goro, under the bridge by the river Bank behind the Army Barracks.
Under the bridge, the team discovered mining pits with underage children and women actively engaging in illegal mining, clear evidence of unregulated activities endangering lives and the environment.
However, the team dispersed the illegal miners accordingly.
The team then proceeded to the Chanchaga area, behind the police station near the main Bridge.
There was evidence of ongoing illegal mining activity, even though the miners disappeared before the team arrived.
It was revealed that the overburden excavated by a construction company handling the road project was packed by underage local miners, as confirmed by the project supervisor, Mr Li.
Mr. Li, the project supervisor, expressed concern over the continuous invasion of the site by illegal miners, despite repeated efforts to disperse them.
According to Mallam Garba, the Chairman of the butchers of Chanchaga and a resident of the community, said the illegal miners, mostly women and children who were children of the area, always come to the site between 5–6 p.m. and even at midnight.
He added that he often seizes their mining tools but did not know the appropriate authority to report their activities to, as police will always release them the following day
Because of the Environmental and Community Impact, the team visited another site at Anguwan KwaKwa – Chanchaga where Climax Mining Company had reportedly purchased the land behind the Military Barracks and formed 3-cooperatives of members each working for him while he said the other children were mining on their own by digging the river sediments and panning for gold.
The mining along the river bank has caused serious land degradation and collapse of buildings along the river bank forcing some residents to sell their lands or abandon their homes for their dear lives.
The inspection was concluded beside Federal Government College near the old Bridge, where the large diameter water pipe taking water to Minna town is laid. The miners had disappeared before the arrival of the team.
However, women who engage in sand dredging were present, which also contributes to the overflow of the river, thereby causing ecological damage to the water board pipe.
The Commissioner, Alhaji Garba Yahaya, warned all illegal miners to immediately cease operations within Minna and its surroundings.
He emphasized that the state Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, has given a marching order to clamp down on all forms of illegal mining within the city.
He said anybody caught will face prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others,”
He urged community members, especially youth and Village/District heads including the ward heads, to cooperate with the government by promptly reporting unauthorized mining to his Ministry for immediate action.
He also mentioned that Zuma Minerals Development Company has available sites to engage artisanal miners legally.
Alhaji Garba assured the public that the ministry is ready to support genuine miners in acquiring the necessary mineral titles to mine responsibly, within the confines of the law.
