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The Federal
Government of Nigeria has sent a delegation to the
communities affected by the lead poison incident in Dareta
and Yargalma Villages in Anka and Bukkuyum local Government
Areas of Zamfara State which resulted to the death of many
children.
The delegation also
visited the General Hospital at Bukkuyum where the victims
are being taken care of.
The delegation was led
by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa
Mohammed Sada.
The Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development,
Engineer Musa Sheik Goni, directors of the Ministry and
representatives from the Ministries of Health, Environment,
Water Resources, Labour and Productivity were on the
delegation.
In his remarks at the
affected Communities, and the Government House, Gusau
Arc. Sada said that the essence of the visit was to condole
and commiserate with the Government and the families of
the lead poison incident that caused the death of many
children.
The Minister said that
the second reason of the visit was for the delegation to see
the situation of things on ground and take remediation and
preventive measures against future occurrence.
He advised that miners
in the communities should formalize their operations by
forming Mining cooperatives for necessary assistancce
and to access the World Bank Grant for the development of
the Mining industry in the country.
While briefing
journalists on what the Federal Government has done on the
the lead poison incident after the inspection visit in Gusau,
Zamfara State, Arc. Sada made the following clarifications:
a)
a)- The ores being mined and
processed by the operators contain Gold, Copper, Asanic and
Lead amongst others.
b) b)-
The processing method adopted by the villagers was
unconventional and unsafe. They process the ores by using
domestic untensils such as grinding machine, mortal and
pestles.
c) c)-The final
cleaning of the Gold concentrate also involves the use of
mercury and acid which were indiscriminately handled.
d) d)-
The cause of death was attributed to high level lead
content in the body.
- Th The Minister
disclosed that as a result of the incident, the Ministry of
Mines and Steel Development had taken the following actions:
a) a)- A
stop work order had been issued on all mining and processing
activities in the affected areas.
b) b)-
Commencement of sensitization programme in the affected
areas on safe mining and processing techniques.
c) c)-
Commencement of plans to formalize their operations through
the formation of mining co-operatives.
d) d)-
Provision of potable water to the affected communities
through the World Bank assisted Sustainable Management of
Mineral Resources Project in the Ministry.
ConIn
his remarks during the visit, the Emir of Anka, and the
Chairman of Zamfara State Council of Traditional Rulers,
Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad thanked the Federal
Government of Nigeria and the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the
condolence visit .
Th The Emir said that
the visit not only portrays Mr. President as caring but
also as a person who loves Nigeria and cares for our
wellbeing.
Alhaji Ahmad
observed that poverty is the cause of the unfortunate
incident.
The traditional ruler
therefore urged all persons in positions of leadership in
the country to address the poverty phenomenon.
To prevent recurrence
of the sad incident, the traditional ruler made the
following suggestions:
a)
a)-
Establishment of special security outfit whose tasks among
others should include enduring adherence to the enabling
rules and guidelines governing exploration, processing and
exploitation of mineral resources; arresting and prosecuting
offenders and defaulters; keeping 24 hours vigil on
mining sites.
b) b)- Designing of
health and security preconditions to be fulfilled by
operators or investors before issuance of license or lease
to explore and prospect mineral resources.
c) c)-
Establishment of clinics and hospitals with specialty in
mining – induced sicknesses in areas where mining and
processing of solid minerals are taking place.
d) d)-
Determination of distance from human habitation and animal
grazing to mining and processing of solid minerals sites.
Remediation exercise
had already commenced in some of the affected villages of
the lead poison incident.
The Executive Governor
of Zamfara State, Alhaji Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi and members
of the State Executive Council accompanied the Federal
Government delegation to the affected communities.
In his remarks at
the Government House, Gusau, Alhaji Shinkafi
commended the Federal Government for the visit and
the prompt response to the lead poison incident. He
added that the visit will boost the morale of the
people of Zamfara State
Governor Shinkafi
disclosed that remediation exercise had already
commenced in the affected areas. He explained that
the top soil in the affected areas are being
removed and replaced with good one.
The Governor also
disclosed that the victims are responding to
treatment at the General Hospital at Bukkuyum and
others had been discharged.
He said that the
State Government will enlighten and encourage its
indigenes to form mining co-operatives to obtain
mining licenses and leases to facilitate their
operations.
He assured
that Zamfara State will continue to partner with
the Federal Government and investors for the
development of the Mining industry in the country.
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