Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has banned all mining activity in the state until miners’ data can be collated.
The governor issued the directive while meeting with members of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Benue Chapter, in Makurdi.
He also asked the Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee, or MIREMCO, to begin compiling data on all miners in the state right now.
He stated that the decision to perform the revalidation exercise was based on reports of security risks.
He also expressed concern over the poisoning of water supplies for inhabitants in the impacted districts, particularly in Kwande.
The governor urged security forces and the joint task force on illicit mining to do the right thing to improve people’s well-being and raise Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
“The state government will not tolerate any illegality. It is our administration’s prerogative to protect the lives and property of the people,” he added.
cc: Daily Post Ng
