Writing By Daniel Karlmax; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to improving mining operations by transforming the lives of local miners and ensuring safer mining practices across the country.
Executive Secretary of the Solid Mineral Development Fund (SMDF), Hajia Fatima Shinkafi, stated this at the opening of a strategic sensitization program for artisanal and small-scale miners in Kaduna.
She said, the Solid Mineral Development Fund is an agency under the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development that is empowered by law to undertake activities such as developing human and physical capacity in the sector, equipping mining institutions, and providing infrastructure in mining areas.
Represented by the Head of Human Resources, Mr. Daniel Oluwa, the Executive Secretary explained that the program aims to empower miners with essential knowledge of safer mining practices, in addition to providing them with the necessary tools for efficient and secure operations.
Hajia. Fatima further pointed out that, the sector also faces significant risks that included hazardous working conditions, accidents among other environmental concerns, hence the need for awareness on best practices, health and safety standards toward reducing accidents and improving working conditions for miners.
“This event is not just a formality, it’s a commitment to the health, safety and future of our hardworking miners who contribute greatly not only to the economy of Kaduna State, but the nation at large,
“I’ll like to express my gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Hon. Minister of solid minerals development Mr. Dele Alake for their support and guidance,
“Their efforts underscore a national commitment to fostering an environment where economic progress does not come at the expense of human health or safety,” she added.
Also speaking, the Mining Officer for the North West Zone, Mr. Siaka Usman, highlighted the significance of the strategic sensitization program in improving the safety and productivity of small-scale miners.
He explained that, the program provided a platform for the Artisanal small scale miners, ASMs to be exposed to the benefit of using personal protective equipments such as the nose masks, Google and foot wears among others to guarantee their safety.
He warned that, some minerals contain radioactive substances that could pose serious hazard to miners, hence the strategic sensitization program to enable them understand that it’s not every operation they expose their body to without adequate protection.
“Most of the Artisanal miners don’t use the protective equipments, they stand to know the benefit of it because we are informing them about the implications of not using it,
“Miners should regularize their operations, so that they’ll have confidence in their activities, and they will be able to receive mines officers going there for them to educate them on some of the safety tips,
“But most of these illegals miners when they see mines officers coming, they run away, sometimes, it’s not all times that we want to drive them to pay royalties no, most times, we want to educate them on safety standards,” he added.
In an interview, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Bubba—represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Linda Yakubu—described the program as timely and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining activities.
He said, the state has put in place the Institutional frameworks such as the Kaduna State mining development company and the committee on mining saddle with the responsibility of harnessing and monitoring the activities of miners in the state for effective service delivery.
The commissioner pointed out that, the frameworks would enable them operate in clusters and access development trainings to achieve high productivity, minimize hazards in addition to tackling the menace of illegal mining.
In their separate remarks, Chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter, Engineer Kashim Mshelia, and other participants, including Hajia Samira Garba and Mr. Dogara Danfulani, expressed optimism that the program would positively impact local mining practices across the country.
Participants at the event were drawn from various state chapters of the Miners Association of Nigeria, including Women in Mining, security agencies, and other stakeholders.
The highlight of the sensitization program was the distribution of safety kits and mining tools such as wheelbarrows, water pumping machines, nose masks, and shovel among other essential equipment to participants.
Daniel Karlmax.
