Nigeria bans mining activities in Kogi State Nigeria

The government of Kogi State in Nigeria has banned illegal mining in every part of the State. Bashiru Gegu, the Kogi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources issued the order following death of two people at an illegal mining site at Ika-Ogboyaga, Ankpa Local Government Area of the State when a portion of a mining bed caved in.

The death of the two victims, identified as Attah and Amodu, took place on Saturday. The Commissioner said that henceforth all operators should register with the ministry. Failure to adhere to the directive, the State government would clamp down on the mining operators and sites.

Illegal activities

Meanwhile, the State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says it has begun an investigation to ascertain the owner of the collapsed site. Nkom Samson Katung, the head of solid minerals of the command, explained that divisional officers had been directed to link up with the traditional ruler of the community to suspend illegal activities in the area.

Nigeria’s north, especially Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and Zamfara states, are particularly hard hit by the blight of illegal mining. An estimated 80% of mining in these areas is conducted illegally on an artisanal basis, involving over two million people who depend on it for survival. Unregulated mining also stokes environmental issues in these areas, such as water pollution, deforestation, poor soil fertility and limited access to land for agriculture productivity.