Rabiu Omaku
Nasarawa State Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Honorable Yakubu Kwanta Bohr has stated that Trimadix Geomin Consult Ltd was stopped from operating illegal mining in Kokona Local Government Area of the State by a joint team of security operatives.
The Commissioner hinted during a press conference at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
Yakubu Kwata buttressed that the Ministry has taken a bold step to close down the illegal site on April 19, 2024, to secure the community following a series of complaints about the tension in the area,” he added
He confirmed that security personnel had currently taken over the site at the directive of the State Government.T
According to him, “The community also wrote a petition about the illegal mining activities in their area without proper consent and we needed to take action to avoid a breakdown of law and order,” Said Yakubu Kwanta.
Noting that Governor Abdullahi Sule had issued Executive Order No. 02 of 2022 that community consent must be forwarded to the State Government before any mining company can operate in any part of the State.
“All community consent and Development Agreement made under Section 116 of the Mineral and Mining Act, 2007 and before signing by authenticated Community Heads shall be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice.
“The said documents will be forwarded through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to be vetted and certified by the Attorney General of Nasarawa State,” he added.
He noted that the Executive Order was meant to avoid multiple issuances of community consents and development agreements to mining entities and ensure that community development commitments made therein are not in conflict with the overall development master plan of the State.
He however added that the Executive Order provided that all mining entities arriving in the State with the authority of the Federal Government must undergo checks by the ministry responsible for environment and mining to verify their legal status, citizenship, and background before settlement.
The Commissioner called on the general public to disregard insinuations of undue interference by the State Government in some quarters, adding that the decision was taken to ensure peace and adherence to the existing laws guiding mining activities in the State.
He explained that the illegal mining company was discovered by the personnel of his Ministry during their routine inspections of mining sites in the state.
“Our personnel discovered that Trimadix Geomin Consult Limited was operating in the Amba community of Kokona LGA without following the lay down due process by the Nasarawa State Government.
Nasarawa State Government has closed down an illegal mining site in the Amba community of Kokona Local Government Area of the State for not following due process.
