FG lifts ban on mineral exploration in Zamfara after 5 years

After more than five years of security restriction, the Federal Government has lifted the ban on mining exploration activities in Zamfara State.

Making the announcement during a press briefing at the weekend, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, stated that Nigeria has a lot to gain from reawakened economic activities in a highly mineralised state like Zamfara that is imbued with vast gold, Lithium, and copper belts.

It would be recalled that in 2019, the federal government imposed a ban on mining activities in Zamfara State due to escalating security concerns, particularly the links between banditry and illegal mining.

Alake said the ban, which was well-intentioned, inadvertently created a vacuum exploited by illegal miners to fleece the nation of its resources.

He stressed that the state’s potential for contributing to national revenue is enormous.

“The existential threat to lives and properties that led to the 2019 ban has abated. The security operatives’ giant strides have led to a notable reduction in the level of insecurity, and with the ban on exploration lifted, Zamfara’s mining sector can gradually begin contributing to the nation’s revenue pool,” Alake said.

The minister added that the lifting of the ban would also facilitate better regulation of mining activities in the state, saying this will enable more effective intelligence gathering to combat illegal mining and ensure the country benefits from the state’s rich mineral resources.

Alake: FG’s reforms positioning Nigeria as global mining hub

Commending journalists for championing the propagation of reforms and initiatives of the ministry in 2024, Alake noted that the press have been key allies in efforts to sanitise the mining sector and promote market reforms which he said have made the industry attractive to indigenous and foreign investors.

On the recent controversy surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with France, Alake reaffirmed the federal government’s position that the agreement does not imply Nigeria is relinquishing control over its mineral resources or entering into any military pact with France.

The minister stressed that Nigeria’s military remains fully capable of safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity.

He stated: “The high point of the MOU is on training and capacity building for our mining professionals. We need all the assistance we can get in terms of capacity, technical, and financial support from abroad, and that wasn’t even the first we are signing.

“We’ve signed similar ones with Germany and Australia. Deliberate peddling of misinformation, despite facts to the contrary, is uncalled for.”

The Star