Miners association condemns illegal mining, seeks strict regulatory component
NAN-HE-29
Condemnation
Abuja, Oct.20, 2016 (NAN) The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Thursday condemned the activities of illegal miners in Nigeria and called for the enforcement of strict regulatory component to checkmate it.
Alhaji Sani Shehu, President of MAN who made the call in Abuja at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum, said the issue of illegal mining was a very big challenge worldwide.
“By definition, illegal mining should not be limited to those labourers that dig with digger and shovel.
“Anything that is outside the provision of the law, anything that one does that is outside the provision of the mineral and mining act is illegal.
“This includes the foreign firms that obtain exploration licence and ended up doing mining or obtain a small scale mining list that ended up in an underground mining with heavy equipment.
“This also includes a situation where most of the foreigners will go to a mining site and buy off whatever that is being mined competitively, therefore rendering the owner of the mining site to a disadvantaged position.
“So to me, illegal mining is supposed to be an all inclusive concept that is far beyond the digging with digger and shovel; I think that is the impression being generated
“The regulatory authority should be able to capture all components of illegal mining and tackle them appropriately.’’
Shehu said though the MAN did not have the power to arrest or prosecute offenders due to its limitations, it would do whatever was in its jurisdiction to checkmate the illegal mining.
The association would continue to sensitise miners, through the community leaders and its various chapters, by using local languages of the mining community to communicate with them.
The president said the enlightenment would be on the need for the labourers to see the dangers involved in illegal mining and on the advantage of doing it right.
He said this was because when mining was done the right way, the risk involved from the illegal operations would be reduced.
Shehu said this was because the labourers knew nothing or cared less for their safety health wise.
This was the case that led to the death of people in Zamfara from the lead poisoning when the association had to step up its campaign in seven states to sensitise people.
According to him, mining is an international business, thus there is need to curb illegal mining and mineral smuggling.
He said the association would cooperate with the government to proffer an effective strategy to monitor mineral movements at the borders.
He said even though Nigeria’s borders were porous, there were partnerships and information on suspicious movement between towns and would be narrowed.
“Why I said that is because our members are everywhere from here to the borders of Gembu in Cameroun, and from here to Bakassi border and everywhere other borders.
“So I think the operations will be more effective and with the collaboration of the ministry, the association and the Civil Defence Corps, since the three organsiations have offices every where, it would be achieved. (NAN)
ATAB/IA
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman