The Federal Government on Sunday announced the lifting of the ban on mining activities in Zamfara State, five years after its order criminalizing such activities in the state.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development’s spokesman, Segun Tomori, stated that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, lifted the ban during a media chat.
The statement partly reads: “The Federal Government has lifted the ban on mining exploration activities in Zamfara State, citing significant improvements in the security situation across the state”
Tomori quoted the minister as saying 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.”
Alake maintained that the previous ban, which was well intentioned, inadvertently created a vacuum exploited by illegal miners to fleece the nation of its resources.
He clarified: “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.
“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”, Alake added.
He expressed optimism that the lifting of the ban would also facilitate better regulation of mining activities in the state and also enable more effective intelligence gathering to combat illegal mining and ensure the country benefits from the state’s rich mineral resources.
While commending Nigerian journalists for championing the propagation of reforms and initiatives of the ministry in 2024, the minister noted that the press had 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.
The ministry’s spokesman further stated: “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 channels”, Tomori added.
