FGN trains small scale miners in the north
Story Najibullahi ADAMU, Gombe
As part of efforts to boost mining activities in the north, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has organised a two-day training for northeast and northwest small scale miners.
The training, according to the director, Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) department of the ministry, Mr Patrick Ojeka, which was held Tuesday at the federal secretariat in Gombe State was aimed at educating the miners on how best to harness the mining potential of their localities.
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Represented by the chief Geologist in the ministry, Hajiya Hassana Jummai Shaba, the director pointed out that ASM uses local basic tools to excavate minerals, adding that their activities could result in negative environmental impacts and other vices that could equally lead to social disruption and conflicts within the area of their operation.
“However, in spite of these inherent challenges associated with this form of mining, the fact remains that artisanal and small scale mining is a livelihood strategy adopted primarily to alleviate poverty in rural areas in most countries and when properly organised, can contribute to the socio-economic development in the rural areas.
“Presently, artisanal and small scale mining operations are carried out in the 36 states of the federation including the FCT with over 500,000 people directly involved and the number is increasing by the year.
“It is in recognition of the importance of mining cooperatives, that the ministry adopted a strategy termed formalisation, through corporatisation to address the challenges facing artisanal and small-scale mining, while using it as an instrument to alleviate poverty,” the director noted.
A participant at the workshop, Alhaji Musa Santuraki Pali, who is the chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State Chapter, lauded the ministry for organising the training saying it would help in encouraging their activities.
According to him, mining contributes to the economy more than farming, asserting that the former can be used in economic diversification while the latter only provides food to the nation.
He particularly commended the federal government for allowing only the indigenes to engage in small scale mining but however appealed to the government to also provide financial support to them.
The Miners Association chairman uncovered that Bauchi and Gombe states are endowed with abundant minerals including gypsum, coal, kaolin, uranium and lithium used in producing batteries.
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