TheCable

The Bauchi state government has banned the issuance of consent letters to prospective investors in the mining sector without due approval.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Saleh Umar, information officer in the ministry of natural resources, said individuals, groups, and monarchs are prohibited from issuing consent letters without obtaining clearance from the ministry of natural resources.

Umar said the government is determined to create an enabling environment for the mining sector to thrive in the state by enhancing investors’ confidence in the solid minerals sector.

He quoted Maiwada Bello, commissioner of the ministry, as saying that the ban is meant to curb environmental degradation and security challenges associated with mining activities.

“In view of this development, the state government henceforth banned individuals, groups, or traditional heads from issuance of consent letter to any prospective investors in the state without obtaining clearance from the ministry,” the statement reads.

“I, therefore, call on our traditional rulers and all stakeholders in the mining sector, especially mining investors, to take note.”

In December, Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, said “powerful Nigerians” are behind illegal mining in the country.

The minister accused those behind illegal mining of sponsoring banditry. 

“One pernicious discovery that we have made is that a lot of these banditry, terrorism, and insecurity that we associate with this sector are actually sponsored by illegal miners,” Alake said. 

“These are not your artisanal miners. They are not the people who pick gold on the ground. These are heavy and powerful individuals in our country. And they are Nigerians. They are not foreigners.”