The Niger state government has secured a mining licence for onward mining activities in the premises of the College of Education in Minna, the state’s capital.
The Governor of the state Abubakar Sani Bello stated this during the 28th Convocation ceremony of the College of Education.
He said the acquisition for the mining field in the college environment is to have total control of the Gold large deposit and prevent it from external encroachment.
The Governor who equally appreciated the efforts of the college’s management and governing Council, said his administration will do more on the issue of security within the college while tasking the authority of the institution to collaborate with security agencies to ensure periodic patrols in and around the College.
The Provost, Niger State College of Education, Professor. Muhammad Yakubu Auna, who also decried the Illegal mining activities in the college due to its hazards and security threat, urged the government to urgently utilise the mining site for the betterment of the college and the state in general.
“The College is laying in a discovered large gold deposits and other precious stones site.”
Professor Auna however mentioned that the College has recruited additional 36 security personnel to curtail the encroachment of their environment by illegal miners, posing a serious challenge on both the security and learning atmosphere.
Report shows that the activities of artisanal Mining in Niger state in North Central Nigeria in recent years has devastated environments leading to poisoning from lead-contaminated precious stones.
The state is one of the states in the country with high deposits of Gold and other solid minerals, that are yet to be formally exploited which led to the activities of illegal miners.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian government recently approved for the 36 states in the country to venture into the exploitation of the mineral resources in their respective states to curb illegal mining.
PIAK
