To position Kano State as a top destination for solid minerals investment, the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources on Monday led a high-level delegation to a mining site in Zainabi village, Doguwa Local Government Area.
The team included senior ministry officials, representatives of a Chinese investor, Lanhai Mining Company Limited, and the holder of the site’s mining cadaster licence, Santago Nigeria Limited.
The assessment tour aimed to evaluate mineral availability and explore modern extraction technologies.
Commissioner Hamza Safiyanu Kachako, represented by the Director of Mines, Muhammad Bala, said the visit was part of efforts to attract serious investors and upgrade local mining practices.
He noted that while artisanal mining is prevalent in the area, it has led to environmental degradation.
Kachako expressed hope that formalized operations by major investors would transform the mining landscape and benefit the host communities.
Sha’aya’u Jibrin, Director of Environmental Protection, Control, and Safety, raised concerns about illegal mining activities encroaching on nearby settlements.
He instructed local miners to stop the encroachment and begin environmental remediation by refilling excavated pits with suitable soil.
The goal, he said, is to reclaim land for planting economic trees and provide alternative livelihoods beyond mining.
Alen Zhang, Project Manager of Lanhai Mining Company, expressed strong interest in the site’s mineral potential.
He said the company is ready to deploy machinery for exploration or mining once a formal agreement is reached with the license holder.
Malam Sa’idu Isyaku Maye, who represented Santago Nigeria Limited, affirmed the company’s commitment to a productive partnership with the Chinese firm and the government.
The visit, which included a team of directors and senior staff from the ministry, marks a promising step toward attracting foreign investment and ensuring the sustainable development of Kano State’s solid minerals sector.
Credit: Adamu Ibrahim Dabo
