Gov Kefas Engages Artisanal Miners, Accuses Govt Officials Of Aiding Illegal Mining

By Sule Wakili, Jalingo 

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has accused some government officials of complicity in illegal mining activities across the state, vowing to sanitise the sector through a new responsible mining framework.

Governor Kefas made the allegation during a stakeholders engagement with artisanal miners held at the Banquet Hall, TY Danjuma House, Jalingo.

The meeting, themed “Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Activities, Effects on the Environment and Mining Communities, and the Way Forward for Sustainable Development in Taraba State,” drew officials of government, miners’ associations and representatives of mining communities.

The Governor said artisanal mining sustains thousands of families in Taraba and therefore cannot be criminalised, but must be organised to ensure safety, legality and environmental protection.

He announced that his administration will develop the Taraba Responsible Artisanal Mining and Community Health Standards to protect water sources, train miners and health workers, and create a clear system for reporting dangerous practices.

Kefas urged the leadership of miners’ associations to support government in sensitising members on workable and practical policies, while warning that his government will no longer tolerate sabotage by officials who aid illegal operations.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Solid Minerals, Mr. Matsai David Angye, described the meeting as timely, stressing that government’s intention is not to stop artisanal miners from earning a living but to train and empower them for safer and more productive operations.

Representatives of artisanal miners from different parts of the state also spoke and tabled their demands before the Governor.

The event featured the conferment of “Most Mining-Friendly Governor” award on Governor Kefas.

Meanwhile, the Governor presented dummy cheques totaling N2.5 billion for key interventions, including N500 million for Taraba CARES to support vulnerable households, N1 billion for the Taraba State Youth Development Agency, and N1 billion for relief efforts in Karim Lamido and other crisis-affected communities.

He charged the implementing committees to ensure judicious utilisation of the funds with honesty, transparency and accountability.