Kebbi govt. warns illegal miners

Gov Atiku Bagudu

The Kebbi State Government has warned illegal miners to obtain the official permit and form cooperative societies to benefit from government support and avoid prosecution.

Alhaji Zailani Mohammad, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, gave the warning on Thursday while addressing the miners at Mararabar, Yauri Local Government Area of the state.

Mohammad was accompanied by officials of the state Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and other stakeholders.

He said that the visit was to intimate the miners of the state government’s readiness to collaborate with them in harnessing the solid minerals for revenue generation.

The commissioner also tasked them on the need to be law abiding and to be well organized to attract support from the state government.

He said that the state government would focus attention on solid minerals due to the fallen price of fuel, adding that the visit was to interact with the miners on how to assist them in generating revenue.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Suleiman Marafa, advised the miners to be law-abiding and adhere to rules of mining, especially payment of revenue to the state.

He urged them to ensure registration of their activities with relevant state and national authorities.

The Chairman, Yauri Emirate Miners Association, Mallam Abdullahi Maiakwai, assured that the miners would be law abiding and support the government, especially in the prompt payment of revenue.