Niger state secures mining license for state’s College of Education
Abdul Mohammed Isa. Niger state
Niger state governmentin North Central Nigeria has secured a mining licence for onward mining activities in the premises of the state college of Education Minna.
The Governor of the state Abubakar Sani Bello who stated this on Saturday ,during the 28th Convocasion ceremony of the state’s College of Education .
Governor Sani Bello said the aquisation for the mining field in the college environment is to have a 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.
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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 utilised the mining site for the betterment of the college and the state in general.
“The College is laying in a discovered large gold deposite and other precious stones site”.added Prof Auna
Professor Auna however mentioned that the College has recruited additional 36 security personnel to curtail the enchroacment of their environment by illegal miners, posing a serious Challenge on both the security and learning atmosphere.
Report shows that the activities of artisanal Mininig in Niger state in North Central Nigeria in recent years,has devastated environments leading to poisoning from lead-contaminated precious stones.
Niger state in North Central Nigeria, 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.
