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Lead poisoning: Govt declares progress in Zamfara safer mines project

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ABUJA : In the aftermath of the lead poisoning that caused the deaths of hundreds of women and children in Zamfara State, the Federal Government has stated that remediation efforts and emphasis on safe mining are beginning to pay off.

Government has stressed that illegal mining and inappropriate mineral ore processing methods adopted by local miners in Abare, Dareta, Unguwar Yargalma, Bagega and some other villages in Zamfara State that led to lead poisoning emergency in the State.

Illegal mining results in lead poisoningThe Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and other Government agencies as well as some international agencies made concerted efforts to have the emergency situation brought under control.

In February 2013, funds were made available to the Ministry to execute the Safer Mining Programme in Zamfara State. The programme is crucial in ensuring that lead poisoning does not occur again in the state whilst the mining communities are assured of sustainable livelihood through safe mining operations.

In a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja, the Ministry said it has since commenced series of coordinated activities that will ultimately institutionalize safer mining procedure.

According to the statement, the Ministry has commenced the construction of Extension Services outposts in designated areas in Anka and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas. The facilities will each be provided with functional water boreholes. The construction of the boreholes is ongoing at the outposts. The outposts will be fitted with all equipment necessary for on-the-site training of the local miners.

In addition, the Ministry has just concluded the formalization of informal miners in Zamfara State. This process involves identification of the mining artisans and forming them into mining cooperatives for the purposes of assisting them to meet all the requirements prescribed in the mining law and regulations.

It added that, “Formalization is a crucial process which enables the Ministry to obtain vital information and data about the miners, their mine areas and modes of operation. It allows ease of administration, monitoring and evaluation as well as supervision.”

It noted that the Federal Ministry of Environment is also making progress in Remediation while the Ministry of Health has gone far in the provision of treatment for those infected.

“On the other hand, the Ministry has embarked on vigorous sensitization campaign in the State using both the electronic and print media to enlighten the public, especially the rural people in the mining communities of Zamfara State of the inherent dangers associated with inappropriate mineral processing and illegal mining,” the statement added.

The enlightenment campaign involves programmes structured for broadcasts in Hausa language through Radio Nigeria Kaduna and Zamfara State Radio. In addition, erection of large bill boards in strategic roads in Gusau, Anka and Bagega has also commenced.

The Ministry further announced that it has concluded the procurement arrangement for the importation of wet milling machines and Igoli processing plants. It is important to note that delivery period for the machines is between 6-8 weeks.

Meanwhile, the wet milling machines will drastically eliminate dust generation during gold ore processing while the Igoli machines enhance gold extraction without the application of mercury.

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Business

Nigeria set to boost Naira value and foreign reserve with local gold production, as Tinubu receives gold bar

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IN  a significant move to strengthen Nigeria’s economy, President Bola Tinubu received a symbolic gold bar on Sunday from the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.

This gesture marks the commencement of the National Gold Purchase Program (NGPP), aimed at boosting the naira’s value and enhancing the country’s foreign reserves.

Minister Alake expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his support of reforms in the solid minerals sector.

He highlighted that the NGPP, which involves sourcing gold from artisanal and small-scale miners and refining it to meet the London Bullion Market Association’s Good Delivery Standard, will substantially contribute to Nigeria’s economic stability.

Alake stated “This initiative will significantly increase our foreign reserves and strengthen the naira. The refined gold will be supplied to the Central Bank of Nigeria, marking a crucial step in our economic strategy.”

The presentation also underscored the first commercial transaction under the NGPP, establishing a centralized gold purchasing system that integrates small-scale miners, cooperatives, and production units across the nation.

This program is expected to provide a structured market for gold, fostering economic growth and stability.

He said, The successful completion of the first commercial transaction clearly demonstrates the National Gold Purchase Program’s effectiveness. It has increased the nation’s foreign reserves assets and shown that using the Nigerian Naira to purchase a liquid asset traded in United States Dollars, such as gold, is a viable strategy. This transaction has also underscored the potential of the National Gold Purchase Program to enhance fiscal and monetary stability.”

Alake added that the initial commercial transaction under the program resulted in a +US$5 million boost in Nigeria’s foreign reserve assets.

The transaction involved refining over 70 kilograms of gold to meet the London Bullion Market quality standard and aggregating locally mined gold, thereby infusing approximately NGN6 billion into the rural economy.

President Tinubu expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s accomplishment in advancing the government’s goal of economic diversification by acknowledging and displaying the symbolic gold bar

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Solid Minerals

FG Fingers Foreigners Sponsoring Banditry For Illegal Mining

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The Nigerian Government has threatened to come down heavily on foreigners sponsoring bandictory as a way of sustaining illegal mining activities in parts of the country.

The warning was handed down in Abuja by Minister, Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria-China Chamber of Mines led by its National President, Dr. Olugbenga Ajala.

Details of these were contained in a statement released by Head, Press & PR, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Alaba Balogun over the weekend.

The statement cited, Dr Alake, thus, “The government will come down firmly on these unscrupulous foreign operators sponsoring banditry to perpetrate illegal mining: let me use this medium to appeal through you to tell those sponsors to desist or face the full wrath of the law.”

According to Dr Alake, the Ministry is committed to establishing a multi-agency task force that will end the activities of illegal miners and their collaborators.

The Minster made it clear that the FG had given illegal miners a 30-day-ultimatum to legitimise their businesses, quit Nigeria or incur the wrath of the law.

According to him, this will help “to streamline and structure the Small-Scale Artisanal Miners for maximum yield to the Federal Government.”

The delegation paid a courtesy call on the Minsiter at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

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Energy

Fuel Scarcity: Govt Yet to Increase Pump Prices – NMDPRA

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A long queue at an NNPC fuel station

By Edozie Obasi-Eze

 

Amidst heightening uncertainties in the domestic petroleum products market characterised by scarcity and irregular pricing, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has declared that there’s no intention to review pump prices upwards.

This was contained in an advisory issued by General Manager, Corporate Communications, NMDPRA, Kimchi Apollo.

He stated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) had imported PMS with current stock levels sufficient for 34 days.

In an attempt to address panic buying and speculations which have seen price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) oscillate between N180-N250 in the Lagos area, Apollo assured that there was enough quantity of the product in the country already.

He said, “Consequently, marketers and the general public are advised to avoid panic buying, diversion of products and hoarding.

“In keeping with the Authority’s responsibilities as outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Authority assures the public that it would continue to monitor the supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide, especially during this holiday season.”

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