Kebbi Govt Bans Mining Activities

The Kebbi State government yesterday announced the suspension of all mining activities in the state till further notice.

Addressing a news conference in his office in office, Secretary to the State Government, Yakubu Bala-Tafida, said the suspension was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of miners and local communities.

Another reason according to him, is that government in recent times noticed heightened security challenges in locations of mining sites across the state and other concerns such as lack of verifiable evidence of corporate social responsibility on the part of miners,  total absence of accruable revenue in the names of ecological tax and development levy for state and local governments as well as majority of miners not possessing requisite permits from the federal ministry of mines and solid minerals and observable environmental impact.

The SSG said it was important to prioritise the protection and security of citizens in order to guard against converting the mining fields into platforms for breeding of criminals and criminalities by foreigners and non-indigines of questionable character,  with the attendant consequences of increase in banditry in the security compromised areas of the state, particularly in the southern part.

He added that the suspension was also part of a boarder effort to create an environment that promotes safety,  security,  responsible resource extraction,  long-term economic prosperity of the communities and to enhance revenue generation.

He advised miners to relate with the ministry of solid minerals and mines development for authentication and documentation before re-embarking on further mining activities in the state

He also called on security agencies to ensure strict compliance with the suspension till further notice.