A conglomerate Miners’ Association in Bauchi State has called on the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to include the state among gold-producing states in Nigeria.
State chairman of the miners, Musa Santuraki Pali, who made the appeal on Friday during an interactive session with Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah in Bauchi, explained that the state was yet to be captured among gold-producing states despite having abundance of gold deposits in the state.
Santuraki said the situation may pose challenges for miners trying to venture into gold mining, adding that part of the association’s mission was to compliment government’s efforts in the areas of job creation.
He also called on the ministry to provide the needed financial and logistic support to miners to enable them maximize the sector.
Responding, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah explained that inclusion of states among gold producing states by the ministry was usually done in batches, saying that no state would be left out if certified worthy by the ministry.
