3 days ago
8 ARTICLE AD
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State
The Kebbi State government has debunked the news alleging that it was supporting illegal mining ongoing within the state.
The Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development and Mining, Alhaji Haliru Aliyu-Wasagu, on Sunday, while addressing a press conference in Birnin Kebbi, described the report as fake, malicious and a calculated attempt to distract the present administration from its efforts to reposition the state.
He said: “The briefing is to categorically debunk a recent online report which falsely alleges that the Kebbi State government is supporting illegal mining activities in Libata, in the Ngaski Local Government Area.”
The commissioner recalled that the ministry was established in 2023 alongside eight others by Governor Nasir Idris to diversify the state’s revenue sources and address key developmental priorities.
Aliyu-Wasagu also recalled that in September 2023, the state government took decisive action to sanitise the mining sector by suspending all mining activities across the state.
He said the decision was informed by several critical observations, including the lack of verifiable corporate social responsibility initiatives, community development agreement projects, and proper royalties and tax payments to federal and state governments.
The commissioner said the state government had approved and cleared seven mining companies to operate within the Libata area so far.
He said strict protocols were in place to ensure compliance with the rules and regulations, including registration with the ministry.
Aliyu-Wasagu said that after the registration, the ministry would write an introduction letter to be presented to the emir or district head for a consent letter to be forwarded to the Mining Cadastral Office, Abuja, to facilitate the application for a licence.
Other procedures include the ministry validating licences through the Mining Cadastral Office server, engaging with host communities for compensation, and community development projects, and obtaining an insurance permit/clearance from the ministry before mining.
“In the specific case of Libata, Ngaski LGA, Three Crown Company was issued a license by the Mining Cadastral Office, Abuja, for a total landmass of 5.4 square kilometres (27 cadastral units).
“Subsequently, a portion of this land (two square kilometres or 10 cadastral units) was allocated to El-Tahdam Exploration Limited.
“This overlap caused by the Mining Cadastral Office, Abuja, led to a dispute between the two companies. It is important to emphasise that the Kebbi State Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Mining has no involvement in this conflict.
“While Three Crown Company registered with the state government in 2023, El-Tahdam Company did in 2024. Three Crown fully completed the licensing process from the state to the federal levels,” he said.
In his contribution, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK, said the publication was done to distract the government.
He stated that the state has never had a government more responsive, inclusive, and caring than the present administration.
He told residents that the governor was democratically elected to foster democracy and ensure good governance and appealed for support.
