Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has disclosed that an Executive Bill; “Responsible Mining” is to be sent to the State Assembly for passage, to sanitize mining activities in the State.
He stated this when he received the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, led by its Chairman, Sen. Ekong Sampson at his official residence at the Government House Minna.
The Governor said the Bill when passed into law will spell out the procedures to follow in terms of mining, thereby getting rid of all forms of irregularities in the mining sector.
He said the State Government has held a series of meetings with stakeholders in the mining industry on the proposed Bill, which also seeks to address post mining effect among others.
He decried the activities of artisanal miners in the State, saying it has resulted in loss of many lives and property and as well as encouraged banditry activities.
The Governor appreciated the Senate Committee for the visit and reassured that the State will support and partner with the committee to achieve its set objectives even as talk is ongoing with the Federal government on license for aggregation to help in checking the exploitation of young illegal miners.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago also advocated removal of mining from the Exclusive to the concurrent list in the constitution to give room for responsible mining in the state.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Sen. Ekong Sampson explained that part of the mandate of the Committee, is to look into the remote and immediate causes of the mining collapse, following a motion moved by the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Sen. Mohammed Sani Musa on the floor of the Senate.
While commending Sen. Sani Musa for moving the motion, Sen. Sampson highlighted several issues on mining safety in Nigeria and that the mining sector remains critical to the nation hence, the Senate Committee is determined to put measures that would prevent reoccurrence of the incident.
He used the opportunity to convey the deep condolences of the Senate, to the State Government over those who lost their lives in the collapsed mining site.
In his remarks, Sen. Mohammed Sani Musa explained that the huge loss to illegal mining, necessitated the move of the motion.
He described the mining sector as a good avenue for revenue generation which has not been optimally harnessed due to lack of adequate safety measures and other procedures that would ensure mining is carried out in a specialised manner.
