Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has warned traditional rulers against the arbitrary issuance of consent letters to illegal lithium miners across the state’s 13 local government areas.
He highlighted the serious security threats posed by such actions.
Governor Sule gave the warning while hosting members of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, led by its deputy chairman, the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, at the Government House in Lafia, the state capital.
The governor expressed concern over the influx of illegal miners, emphasising the potential for significant security challenges if not addressed.
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He urged the royal fathers to be cautious of individuals exploiting economic difficulties to foster insecurity in mining areas.
“There is nothing that attracts insecurity more than mining. It is an easy way for people to make money, especially those who may not have the state’s best interests at heart but seek to cause security breaches to exploit mineral resources illegally,” Governor Sule said.
He also informed the royal fathers about the frequent discovery of new mineral resources and the increasing interest of investors in the state.
“We have had many investors showing interest in our state due to our recent developments. However, during these challenging times, some individuals might exploit the situation by offering money to communities or royal fathers.
“It is easy to fall prey to such temptations, but I appeal to our royal fathers to take this issue seriously to avoid creating further security challenges,” the governor added.
Governor Sule particularly sought the support and cooperation of traditional rulers in securing parts of the state with mining or agricultural potential.
Using Karu and the Karshi Development Areas as examples, Governor Sule described how illegal miners had made it difficult for licensed miners to access their sites.
“Even those with the cadastral licenses find it hard to go to their sites due to illegal miners, who act like bandits. Licensed miners have told me that they need special security to disperse the illegal miners before they can operate,” he said.
He appealed to traditional rulers to take this issue seriously to prevent unnecessary security challenges in Nasarawa State.
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