Miners in Taraba State Urge Governor to Lift Ban on Mining Activities

In a desperate bid to salvage their livelihoods, miners in Taraba State, Nigeria, have sent a collective SOS message to Governor Agbu Kefas, appealing for the lifting of the ban on mining activities in the state. The ban, which was implemented through Executive Orders Three and Five, has left many miners without a source of income, with some even indebted to financial institutions.

According to a communiqué issued by the miners, they are willing to engage in a partnership with the state government to enhance mining operations and benefit communities and Nigeria at large. The communiqué, signed by Engineer Kutman Hosea, stated that the miners are committed to ensuring that all companies strictly sign and implement agreements for community development with their host communities.

The miners also assured that they would conduct their mining activities in a manner that safeguards the environment and aligns with laid-down procedures. They appealed to both the state and federal governments to provide support and other incentives to indigenous miners, believing that supporting indigenous miners will eradicate poverty in communities where the minerals are located.

The ban on mining activities has brought untold hardship to miners, with many struggling to make ends meet. The miners are hoping that the governor will reconsider the ban and allow them to resume their activities, which they believe will not only benefit the state but also the country as a whole.

The communiqué was issued after a consultative meeting with mineral title holders and stakeholders organized by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Jalingo, the state capital. Although the Ministry was not consulted before passing the Executive Orders, the miners believe that the orders were made in good faith to address insecurity in the state.

The miners are willing to work with the state government to obtain revenue from mining activities by paying stipulated fees. They believe that this partnership will not only benefit the state but also the country, and that it will help to eradicate poverty in communities where the minerals are located.

The fate of the miners in Taraba State hangs in the balance, as they wait for the governor’s response to their SOS message. Will the ban on mining activities be lifted, or will the miners be forced to continue their struggle to make a living? Only time will tell.