Mining Operators Charged On Compliance With The Environmental Health And Safety Law.

As part of the obligation of the Nigeria Mining law, the Federal Government has charged the mining operators in the country to comply with the stipulated environmental health and safety law for the sustainable growth of the mining sector.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada made this declaration during his official visit to Lafarge Cement, WAPCO Plant in Ogun State as part of his working tour of South West zone of the Mines field.

The Minister said ‘’Really the issue of safety, environmental concerns are some of the backbones of the  law  that was recently established to guide mining activities in the country, that is the mining law 2007;apart from the drive for the private investment, the next thing is the environmental issues’’.

Arc. Sada who commended Lafarge Cement, WAPCO Nigeria for its commitment at providing a safe and healthy work environment for its stakeholders and host communities urged other mining operators to emulate the same kind of gesture.

He explained that the purpose of his visit to the cement company was to create awareness on environmental safety and health as well as sensitize the masses on the benefits and gains of the mining industry.

According to the Minister “What we are trying to do is to visit  cement companies and some of our major operators , and let people understand that mining industry is quite a large industry and it needs a lot of attention and people should be interested in investing in it and government should also be interested in its activities “.

The Minister noted that one of the major problems facing the mining industry is lack of activity on the part of mineral titles holders which often resulted to proliferation of illegal mining on the same mineral titles by illegal miners with no basic knowledge of mining.

Arc. Sada assured interested mining operators of the ministry’s support to acquire mining titles so as to facilitate the exploration and exploitation of the nation’s mineral resources, stressing that this would go a long way at curbing illegal mining activities that are injurious to the environment.

He added that such illegal mining activities also tend to reduce the economic value of the mineral resources as a result of lack of proper approach on how mining activities could be handled.

The Minister reiterated the present administration’s determination at creating an enabling environment for mining operations to thrive whereby the government plays its role as a regulator while private investors operate the mining industry.

He explained that  responsibilities of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development revolves round its agencies such as Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Mining Cadastre Office, National Metallurgical Development Centre among others who are always available to give out necessary information to potential investors.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of Lafarge Cement, WAPCO Nigeria, Mr Samy  Abdulkader said Lafarge which is a major cement manufacturer in Nigeria with operations in namely;

He said Lafarge Cement, WAPCO, Nigeria Plc which was formerly West African Portland Cement Plc (WAPCO)was established in 1960 and the company commenced operation with an initial capacity of 200,00 tonnes per annum which has presently recorded a tremendous growth to a production capacity of 2 million tonnes per annum.

Mr. Abdulkader added that Lafarge Company is into extraction of mineral resources from the earth and transform them into major construction materials to meet the basic needs of mankind.

The Managing Director noted that Lafarge is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for its stakeholders as well as engaging in community projects for its host communities.