Following the collapse of an illegal mine in Gashaka-Gunti National Park, Adamawa State, the Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has warned Nigerians to avoid illegal mining activities, citing the risks to lives, the environment, and the economy.
Expressing concern over the issue, Alake called for stronger cooperation among stakeholders in the solid minerals sector, along with collaboration with the National Parks Service, to prevent further incidents.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Segun Tomori, Alake urged those involved in illegal mining to organize into recognized cooperatives and seek proper licenses and permits through the Ministry.
Alake attributed the collapse to a lack of professional skills among artisanal miners, as identified in technical reports from field inspections. He emphasized that local government authorities must monitor illegal mining activities within their jurisdictions and work with state offices of the Ministry to implement early warning systems designed to address this problem.
The Ministry, he added, is sponsoring radio programs in nine Nigerian languages on the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and the Voice of Nigeria to educate the public about the dangers of illegal mining and encourage artisanal miners to join cooperatives and benefit from government training and empowerment programs. The Ministry’s Artisanal Department is also planning additional engagement programs to strengthen trust between artisanal miners and the government.
Alake also referenced the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, which prohibits mineral exploration in national parks due to the environmental risks posed to protected forests, plants, and wildlife. He noted that the Ministry and the National Parks Service have discussed collaboration to prevent mining in these protected areas and urged National Parks Service officers to report any illegal extraction activities to the nearest Federal Mines Officer for swift action.
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