Nigeria to legalise artisan mining

The Federal Government has promised to develop a framework that would legalise artisan mining activities and provide them with legitimate land in the country.

Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Mineral Development, disclosed this on Tuesday after inspecting artisan mining site at Muye Kafinkoro in Paiko Local Government Area of Niger

He added the Federal Government planned to develop a framework that would legalise artisan mining activities.

“We will encourage them to register so that government can come to their aid in the area of capacity training, modern equipment and financial assistance,” he said.

According to Mr. Fayemi, the plans when materialised, will enable the artisans to organise for safety during their business and excel in their endeavour.

The minister, however, urged the miners to cover all wells they use for their activities to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.

“Mining must be become job-creative avenue and revenue generating vehicle for Nigeria,” he said.

He also called on artisan miners to form mining cooperative societies to enable government to support and encourage them.

Mr. Fayemi said that the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development were ever ready to issue licence permit as long as the artisan miners would form cooperative societies.

The minister said that if they were registered, they could be employed by registered mining companies and contribute positively toward enhancing the nation’s revenue.

He described the participation of children in artisan mining as child labour, adding that the ministry would “carefully monitor to prevent the participation of underage children in the trade.”

Mr. Fayemi called for active participation of local government chairmen and stakeholders in monitoring the activities of children to prevent them from indulging in artisan mining.

“Any Nigerian child must be seen in school and not in artisan mining activities,” he said.

(NAN)