Group backs ultimatum on illegal mining

Forum 7 months ago

Group backs ultimatum on illegal mining

The National President of the National Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Cooperative Society, Alhaji Abdullahi Dantasidi, has declared the association’s support for the Federal Government’s 30-day deadline given to illegal miners in the country to join cooperatives.

This was contained in a letter to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and made available to Saturday PUNCH in Lafia on Friday.

The minister had recently issued a 30-day deadline to illegal miners in the country to join the miners’ cooperatives or face the full wrath of the law.

Dantasidi, who expressed his support for the decision in the letter, said it would go a long way in combating illegal mining activities in the country.

“Illegal mining not only poses a significant threat to our nation’s environment and natural resources but also undermines the livelihoods of countless indigenous miners who abide by the regulatory framework.

“Your (the minister’s) resolute stance in this matter sends a powerful message that the rule of law will be upheld and that only responsible mining practices will be encouraged,” he added.

He said as critical stakeholders in the mining sector, artisanal miners believed that the minister’s decision was a step in the right direction in actualising the goals of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the mining sector for the overall development of Nigeria.

He added, “This initiative has the potential to revolutionise the mining sector, fostering cooperation, knowledge sharing, and sustainable mining practices. We are committed to supporting your efforts in any way possible.

“Whether through advocacy, resource mobilisation, or capacity-building programmes, we stand ready to collaborate closely with your ministry to realise the full potential of this initiative.

“We are confident that, under your guidance, our nation’s natural resources will be harnessed responsibly for the benefit of all citizens.”

He, however, urged the minister to embrace a collaborative approach by working closely with the leadership of artisanal miners in the country to bridge the gap between government officials in the cities and local artisanal miners in the forests to get unregistered or illegal miners yet to join a cooperative to do so before the expiration of the deadline.