There are about six to 10 million illegal miners operating in Nigeria, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday, November 8.
According to the Minister,the Federal Government has developed a framework to legitimise these miners by encouraging them to organise themselves and register for mini licences.
Fayemi, who stated that the government was ready to equip and assist such miners, added that this would enable them to fend for themselves and make money.
He said this yesterday when he visited the mining site in Paikoro Local Government in Niger State, where four illegal miners were buried alive a few weeks ago.
Addressing the community, Fayemi stated that Mercury, which is seen as the fastest way of extracting gold by such miners, would be made illegal.This, he said, would safeguard the environment and health of the communities.
“The truth of the matter is that this is very pervasive. It is extensive; it is all over the country. There may be as many as six to10 million Nigerians involved in this. It is no use going into it in an ad hoc manner or utilising the fire-brigade approach, ” he said.
“Our approach to it is to develop a frame-work because the bulk of the people involved in this are not conscious criminals; they come from within the communities. They see this as their legitimate land where they could do anything they considered their birthright.
“So, if you are going to address the issue in a fundamental manner, you cannot come into it with heavy-handed policing or intimidation; and that is not our approach.”
“We want to help them organise themselves, by encouraging them to register and offering them the kind of assistance we think can be sustained over a long-term; one with safer mining practices.”
“We have decided that we will give them licences – that is mini licences for their own areas. They no longer have to hide, if they want to do it. Let them come under artisanal and small-scale mining offices. We will base their seriousness on them organising themselves and coming forward. We will tell the Mining Cadastral offices to organise licences for them and on the basis of that, we can even support them.
He said the new arrangement is in partnership and cooperation between the state, the Federal Government and the local communities.
