The Federal Government has announced the lifting of the five-year ban on mining activities in Zamfara State.
The decision, aimed at rejuvenating the local economy and addressing the region’s security challenges, was made public by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake on Sunday.
The mining ban, imposed in 2021, was intended to curtail the alarming rise in banditry and illegal mining operations, which were believed to have fueled insecurity and contributed to a shadow economy that financed criminal groups.
“The Federal Government has lifted the ban on mining exploration activities in Zamfara State, citing significant improvements in the security situation across the state,” the statement read.
Alake stated that Nigeria “has a lot to gain from reawakened economic activities in a highly mineralised state like Zamfara that is imbued with vast gold, Lithium, and copper belts.”
According to Alake, “This policy that we are reversing today came as a result of some serious security concerns with relevance to the solid minerals sector.”
“It was based on existential threats to lives and properties in the state.”
He noted that the decision had brought formal activities in the mining sector in the state to a total halt, leaving the field to illegal operators.
“The concomitant result was the colossal loss of revenue to the affected communities, local government, the state and the Federal Government as legitimate miners were forced to shut down operations.
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“Recall in 2019, the then FG placed total ban on mining in Zamfara State citing security concerns which was very cogent at the time,” he said.
“It is also not unlikely that such actions let illegitimate miners take over noting that once there is a ban, legal miners obey regulations while illegal miners take advantage.”
The minister however revealed that following intensive government actions, intelligence gathering and security formations in collaboration with the National Security Adviser(NSA), the federal government is ready to resume activities and ensure the protection of lives and properties in the state.
“The security situation in the state has been reviewed and henceforth the ban is now lifted and the relevant agencies can begin to licence legitimate operators for mining the minerals in the state,” he said
Alake, while thanking the media for their support in beaming light on the activities of the administration, particularly on the solid minerals sector, revealed that more policies will be unveiled in 2024 for the development of the solid minerals sector.
The minister explained that the previous ban, which was well intentioned, inadvertently created a vacuum exploited by illegal miners to fleece the nation of its resources.
He also emphasized that the state’s potential for contributing to national revenue is enormous.
“The existential threat to lives and properties that led to the 2019 ban has abated. The security operatives’ giant strides have led to a notable reduction in the level of insecurity, and with the ban on exploration lifted, Zamfara’s mining sector can gradually begin contributing to the nation’s revenue pool,” Alake said.
“Since the beginning of the Tinubu administration, however, intelligence-driven, coordinated security operations have resulted in the neutralization of key bandit commanders, significantly reducing incidents of insecurity. A recent success was the capture of one of the most wanted bandit commanders, Halilu Sububu, in a covert operation in Zamfara.”
To Alake, the lifting of the ban would also facilitate better regulation of mining activities in the state.
He said this would enable more effective intelligence gathering to combat illegal mining and ensure the country benefits from the state’s rich mineral resources.
“Commending members of the fourth estate of the realm for championing the propagation of reforms and initiatives of the ministry in 2024, Alake noted that the press have been key allies in efforts to sanitise the mining sector and promote market reforms which have made the industry attractive to indigenous and foreign investors.
“On the recent controversy surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with France, Alake reaffirmed the Federal Government’s position that the agreement does not imply Nigeria is relinquishing control over its mineral resources or entering into any military pact with France.
“The high point of the MOU is on training and capacity building for our mining professionals. We need all the assistance we can get in terms of capacity, technical, and financial support from abroad, and that wasn’t even the first we are signing. We’ve signed similar ones with Germany and Australia. Deliberate peddling of misinformation, despite facts to the contrary, is uncalled for.”
