Kebbi State Government on Friday announced the suspension of mining activities across the state as a measure to curb security challenges bedeviling some Northwestern States.
Briefing Journalists in his office in Birnin Kebbi, the Secretary to the Kebbi State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida said the decision was in line with recent heightened security challenges in the localities of mining sites across the state.
He identified other reasons including; lack of verifiable evidence of corporate social responsibilities on the part of miners, total absence of accruable revenue in the names of ecological tax and development levy for state and local government respectively, significant number of miners not possessing requisite permit by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Mineral and observable environmental impact.
“For these reasons, the government of Kebbi State under the able leadership of Comrade Dr Nasir Idris has made a difficult but enviable decision to suspend all mining activities until further notice.
“This suspension is a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of both mining workers and local communities,” he said.
According to him, the government is not unmindful of the fact that mining is under the “Exclusive Legislative List”, yet, the decision for the suspension was made after a thorough assessment of the current security situation in the mining sites.
The SSG added that the situation had raised serious concerns about the safety of those involved in the industries, coupled with the apparent lack of verifiable signs of corporate social responsibility in the midst of a complete lack of revenue generation.
Bala-Tafida noted that the state government believed that it was of utmost importance to prioritize the protection and security of its citizens and to safeguard against converting the mining fields as a veritable platform for the breeding of criminals and criminalities by unauthorized foreigners and non-indigenes of questionable character.
This, he said, with the attendant consequence of an increase in banditry activities in the security-compromised areas of Kebbi South.
“This scenario had manifested itself in other neighboring states which we want to avert. It is significant to specially note that, the Kebbi State Government is not officially aware of the presence of the self-acclaimed mining licensed holders and artisanal miners operating in our minefields nor is it deriving revenue from their mining activities.
“These are indeed, fundamental infractions,” he noted.
The SSG insisted that the government sought to address the concerns through comprehensive evaluation and enforcement of strict regulations that would seek to promote responsible mining, safeguard the environment, enhance revenue generation, and more importantly, as an effective proactive security measure.
He recalled that the present administration in the state had invested huge resources to improve the security situation across the state and promised to consolidate the gains of such investment.
Bala-Tafida noted with dismay that none of the supposedly titled holders had any arrangement with the host community on the issue of the community development agreement, saying that it entails that the developers would be required to undertake certain developmental projects in the socio-economic contribution geared towards the sustainability of such community.
While observing that the suspension may have a temporary setback on mining activities, the SSG assured all stakeholders that the government was committed to resolving the underlying infractions and creating a safe and conducive environment for mining activities to resume.
