Chairman Nasarawa Miners Association Calls For The Revocation of Inactive Mining Licenses 

Rabiu Omaku

The Nasarawa state chairman of Miners Association of Nigeria, Nasarawa state chapter, Yusuf Dalhatu of Maifata Nigeria Limited Company has called on the state Ministry of Environment and Natural Resource to as a matter of importance revoke all inactive mining licenses registered with cadastral.

He stated this during a one-day training workshop on capacity Building for Sustainability in Mining and Mineral Processing organized by Raw Material Research And Development Council (RMRDC) held at Mosmmera hotel, Lafia with a theme “Building capacity for improved Practice in Mining and Beneficiating of Minerals in Nigeria.

Dalhatu explained that out of 358 registered miners only 28 are active, urging the constituted authorities to revoke dormant miners whose licenses are ideal.

He described two categories of miners which he said include legal and illegal miners, the chairman further said the inactive miners referred to as speculators are amongst the nagging constraint facing the Association.

While giving a vivid explanations,Yusuf Dalhatu revealed that the holders of dormant licenses known as speculators are those acquiring mining sites at a cheaper price and resold it to foreigners at an exorbitant price.

He maintained that the Association comprises of a conglomeration of other mining companies which includes

1.Bryte Association

2.Sand dealers Association

3.Quarry Association

4.Mine workers Association

5.Lead/Zinc Association

6.Gimstone Association

7.Copper Association

8.Buyers Association respectively.

He explained that the amount for the registration of the mining company was N250,000 to N300,000 depending on the cadastral.

The chairman reeled out some of the challenges of the Association to disagreement within, calling on both state and Federal Government to accord support to miners.

Also commenting, Aliyu Usman Keana, a holder of Sudan Exploration and Mining Company working in Aloshi in Keana Local Government and Ribi and Kumar in Awe Local Government said mining activities has been hijacked by illegal miners in the state.

Usman opined that the state is losing a huge amount of money as royalties to the activities of illegal miners.

He applauded the concerned authorities in the morning sector over the new policy of reclamation of the mining site, Aliyu said the reclamation of the mining site would pave way for agricultural activities.

“If you go to Kumar mining site in Awe Local Government you will discover that almost all the site has dip tunnels which were left open for years and ate causing havocs to the people within the communities”.

He called on the government to support artisan miners with modern facilities.

Yuhuza Mohammed Wamba, a holder of a 5-star Mining license and miner of Tin in the Wamba community decried the absence of an access road to the mining site and insufficient laborers as some of the nagging challenges.

Dr.Shekwonyadi Iyakwari , a senior lecturer and Head of Department of Geology, Federal University of Lafia reeled out some of the mistakes made by miners leading to a mudslide.

He advised artisan miners especially those using the crude method of mining to embrace the modern system so as to avoid untimely death in the tunnel.

The Director, General of the Raw Material Research Development Council, Professor Hussaini Ibrahim appreciates the participants for their immense contributions.

Professor Hussaini Ibrahim has revealed that 85 percent of mining activities in the country are achieved through artisanal and small-scale mining and the bulk of the mineral resources are produced with the use of crude equipment and in extremely dangerous and risky environments.

Professor Ibrahim said that apart from the harsh condition of work due to obsolete facilities, lack of skills and appropriate equipment constitutes one of the major constraints in the mineral sector.

He said the objective of the training workshop was to guarantee a steady supply of mineral raw materials for the industries and ensuring value addition not only for domestic use but also for industrial use.