The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed all illegal miners in Zamfara State to vacate the state immediately.
The development followed the recent outbreak of lead poisoning in Bugundu Local Government Area of the state.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, gave the directive in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori.
The minister stressed that all mining activities in Zamfara remain suspended until the government releases new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guide exploration in the state.
In his reaction to the lead poisoning outbreak, Dr. Alake noted that the ban on mining in Zamfara has been in place for the past six years.
While noting that there shouldn’t have been any mining activity capable of causing the incident, the minister identified illegal mining as the probable cause of the incident.
He blamed traditional rulers and local institutions over illegal mining activities in their domains, noting that the lead poisoning outbreak is proof of their failure to enforce the existing ban.
However, Dr. Alake commended the Zamfara State Government for its swift response by deploying emergency services to the affected areas. and solicited stronger collaboration between the state and officials of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
