The Benue State Taskforce on Illegal Mining has reiterated its commitment to clamp down on all illegal solid mineral mining activities in the state. The task force has also warned against engaging minors in mining exploitation, threatening that such acts will not be tolerated.
The chairman of the taskforce, Comfort Adadu, made this known in Makurdi over the weekend while addressing journalists on the activities of the taskforce. Adadu noted that aside from being the nation’s food basket, “Benue State is also blessed with various solid minerals in commercial quantity.”
She disclosed that the taskforce had taken steps to eradicate all forms of illegal mining in the state and has given miners operating in Benue up to November 2023 to formalize their activities by belonging to registered groups and cooperatives to enjoy patronage from the government.
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“If you are not under any umbrella that is registered by the government, then you are an illegal miner. We have given them up to November to ensure that they belong to a registered group or cooperative to be recognized,” Adadu said.
Adadu further disclosed that the taskforce was already working with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to ensure that all illegal mining activities in the state were checked and those behind the business were apprehended.
She advised all artisanal and miners in the state to always wear protective gear in their own interests and raised concerns over issues of collapsing pits and environmental degradation, urging miners to take all necessary steps to avert the menace.
The Secretary of the taskforce and former Special Adviser on Solid Minerals, Andrew Kputu, while speaking, elaborated on the various solid minerals found in commercial quantity in the state. He said that as part of efforts to ensure sanity in the sector, the taskforce had adopted the carrot and stick approach to ensure that standards in the mining sector were respected by miners.
“What that means is that miners take advantage of the window period allowed by the taskforce to form groups and cooperatives that are recognized by the government. We know that local people are also involved, so we urge them to comply because failing to do so will attract sanctions,” Kputu said.
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The taskforce’s warning comes as illegal mining activities have become rampant in different parts of the country, leading to environmental degradation, loss of revenue, and insecurity. The Nigerian government has been taking steps to curb illegal mining activities, and the Benue State Taskforce on Illegal Mining is playing a vital role in ensuring that the state is not left behind.
The taskforce’s efforts have been commended by stakeholders in the mining sector, who believe that the taskforce’s activities will go a long way in sanitizing the sector and making it more attractive to investors.
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The Benue State Taskforce on Illegal Mining has restated its commitment to clamp down on all illegal solid mineral mining activities in the state. The taskforce has also warned against engaging minors in mining exploitation, threatening that such acts will not be tolerated. Miners operating in Benue are advised to formalize their activities by belonging to registered groups and cooperatives to enjoy patronage from the government. The taskforce’s efforts have been commended by stakeholders in the mining sector, who believe that the taskforce’s activities will go a long way in sanitizing the sector and making it more attractive to investors.
