The Federal Government has hinted of its plans to regulate gold exploration in Zamfara State by introducing a standard operating code intended to ensure a more structured and transparent mining activities in the state.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave this hint while responding to media enquiries at a programme organized to mark the first anniversary of the establishment of the Mining Marshals, a special body set up to safeguard the sector against illegal mining activities.
The Federal Government had in December 2024 lifted a five-year ban on mining exploration in Zamfara State due to heightening activities of bandits and illegal miners.
The minister had then explained that the lifting of the ban was due to improvement in the security situation in the state, adding that following the lifting of the ban, the government inaugurated an inter-agency and inter-departmental committee to draft a standard operating procedure specifically for mining operations in the state.
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According to him, the committee was constituted to develop a code of conduct for operators within the state’s mining sector, especially as it relates to gold extraction in the state.
Clarifying on the steps taken by the government to make the environment in Zamfara State conducive for mining operations, the minister said: “Yes, we lifted the ban on exploration in Zamfara late last year. Subsequently, I set up a committee, which is inter-agency and inter-departmental, to draw up a standard operation procedure for mining in Zamfara state in particular, given the background of what transpired there before. So I have a copy of this standard operation procedure here. It is like a code for anybody who wants to operate in Zamfara.
“We have developed a standard operating procedure for mining in Zamfara, given the unique challenges the state faced previously. This SOP serves as a code for anyone looking to explore or operate in the region”, he added.
Alake explained that the security agencies, including the Ministry of Defense, the Inspector-General of Police, and the National Security Adviser, as well as theMining Marshals would play critical roles in ensuring compliance with the new operating code, introduced as part of the government’s efforts to ensure that licensed operators do their mining activities safely in the state.
He assured: “There will be no banditry, such nefarious activities preventing legally licensed operators from carrying out their operations in Zamfara.
“I even have several things that the mining marshals will do in Zamfara. There will be tracking and regulation of mineral movement. The mining marshals will also be involved in tracking the movement of minerals in Zamfara and elsewhere”, Alake added.
