Miners seek support to tackle illegal mining, loss of revenue

Nigerian miners have called on the federal and Bauchi State governments to support them to tackle the activities of illegal miners and loss of revenue in order to boost their activities and help revitalise the nation’s economy.

The chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State chapter, Alhaji Musa Santuraki Pali, made the plea when he interacted with reporters in Bauchi.

While noting that mining contributes to the economy more than farming, he said excavation of minerals can be used in economic diversification and complementing the revenues generated from oil, and providing jobs to teeming citizens.

He said the majority of local miners have little or no knowledge about the laws and activities in the mining sector, which led them into so many problems, sometimes even losing their lives.

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The state Secretary of the association, Alhaji Abubakar Inuwa Labara and the Ningi Gocal Government coordinator, Zahraddeen Danmadami, said Bauchi State is endowed with abundant minerals including gypsum, coal, kaolin, uranium and lithium used in producing battery many metal and non-metals.