Nigeria to crack down on illegal Mining in Zamfara
The government of Nigeria has initiated a crackdown on illegal Mining Zamfara State. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake issued a decisive warning to illegal miners operating in the area and also reiterated that the suspension of mining activities in the state remains firmly in place.
The restriction will continue until the government introduces new standard operating procedures that will guide the structured and lawful resumption of mining operations. This development comes in response to a recent outbreak of lead poisoning in Bugundu Local Government Area, which has raised serious public health concerns.
Effects
Dr. Dele Alake, emphasized that the ongoing ban on mining enacted six years ago was intended to prevent precisely such environmental and health disasters. He blamed the situation on unauthorized mining activities and the failure of some local authorities to enforce existing regulations.
According to a statement by Segun Tomori, the Minister’s media aide, Dr. Alake criticized the negligence of certain traditional and local institutions. He stressed that these entities, which receive government funding, carry a responsibility to uphold federal directives. When they fail in this duty, he noted, it leads to disorder and endangers the lives of citizens, as seen in the recent incident.
The Minister commended the Zamfara State Government for its prompt response in deploying emergency services to affected areas. He also called for enhanced collaboration between federal and state authorities to completely eliminate illegal mining. Dr. Alake reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives and restoring order in the mining sector through comprehensive reforms.
To ensure proper regulation moving forward, the ministry is preparing detailed standard operating procedures. These will define the legal framework for mining, assess current license holders, vet new applications, enforce community development agreements, and ensure environmental clean-up in affected regions. In addition, the federal government plans to deploy satellite technology nationwide to monitor mining activities, detect illegal operations, and improve transparency across the sector.
