Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has called for an executive order from the Presidency or the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to ban mining activities in locations identified as problematic across the state.
Bago made the call on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politicsprogramme, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He noted that the state government needed stronger intervention from the Federal Government because of the limitations surrounding the enforcement of mining regulations.
Asked what his administration was doing about the presence of minors at mining sites, the governor said decisive action was required to stop the practice.
“I am in between the devil and the Red Sea because, as a governor, yes, it’s in my state. As a governor, I cannot just go and order the police or military to start shooting people or arresting people. As a governor, I can only make advocacy.
“But these people, because they have tasted the mining money, they cannot leave that side. We need decisive action. We need an executive order from the Presidency or from the Ministry of Mineral Resources to ban mining in certain locations where we have seen they are problematic. Once that is done, it can be enforced,” he said.
