The Emir of Anka and Chairman, Council of Chiefs in Zamfara, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, has advised the Federal Government to reconsider its decision to ban illegal mining in the north-western state. The monarch gave the advice on Tuesday while receiving the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Zamfara, Alhaji Aliyu Alhaji-Garba, and officials of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, who paid him a courtesy visit. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the NSCDC officials, in collaboration with the federal ministry of mines and steel development, were in Anka to meet with local miners.

“Instead of a total ban, government should sensitise illegal miners and also give them close monitoring to ensure they complied with the rules and regulations of the trade. “Though illegal mining has negative implications, especially on health, environment, ecology and security, government should also be considerate. “The total ban will result in massive unemployment which may escalate insecurity already bedeviling the state,” the monarch said.

He lamented that most of the mining companies in the state were not helping their host communities. The emir assured his visitors of total support and cooperation from the emirate and traditional rulers toward reviving and modernising the mining sector. Earlier, Alhaji-Garba had said that the sensitisation was aimed at ensuring that mining activities were done in line with the rules and regulations guiding the activity. “We want all illegal miners in the state to acquire the licence from the federal government. “This is one of federal government’s policies toward diversifying the nation’s economy.

“Zamfara is one of the states in the country blessed with abundant mineral resources, government is working with stakeholders to ensure that the resources are harnessed in line with best practices,” he said. He said that the NSCDC had a mandate of providing security for licensed mining companies and monitoring the activities of illegal mining in the state.

In his remark, the Plan Officer of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Abunumah Samuel, said that about 80 per cent of mining activities in Nigeria was carried out by artisanal miners which were generally illegal. He said that the federal government wants to make sure that all artisan miners acquired licences so that they would pay revenue to government. NAN reports that illegal mining activities have continued to persist in Zamfara in spite of the ban on the crude trade.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/reconsider-the-ban-of-illegal-mining-in-zamfara-emir-tells-buhari.html

Can you imagine

This is what we are taking about.

Rather than encourage government to speedily harness all the possibilities in mining industries in a way that benefits the larger good, an emir is asking for the ban on illegal mining lifted, so that he and his illegal beneficiaries can continue smiling to the bank while the populace languish in penury.

The northern leaders would have since cried out too if the boarder closure affected them in anyway like Southerners.

Arrewa come and carry your emir o.

Gbengais:
Can you imagine

You mean bonga-fish head Emir that has to wear heavy turbans to compensate for the lack of any brains, right?

Don't be surprised. There have always been two Nigerias which shouldn't have been forcefully sustained as an unhealthy unit till now. And, that's how brain-damaged Northern leadership keep influencing top govt policy sabotage and policy somersaults to the detriment of the largely divided South.

Their id1otic slaves will come along to justify his rants shortly. But I daresay, a generation may arise someday that may yet address these bullsh!t for the absolute nonsense it is.

While his view is understandable, he should not use the words “lift ban on ILLEGAL mining”

Rather his words should be an advice to the presidency to enable the miners to easily get licensed so as to generate more revenue