Nigerian govt shuts down illegal gold mining site in Abuja

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has ordered the shutdown of an illegal gold mining site in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The directive, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, followed reports of illegal gold mining in the area and the Federal Government’s determination to mitigate potential environmental hazards.

He said the Mining Marshals sealed a mining site at the District 2 Extension layout in Gwagwalada on August 16, where 16 suspects were arrested and would soon be prosecuted.

The marshals announced on August 8 the closure of an illegal quarry operating within the Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

“The minister disclosed that preliminary investigations showed that illegal artisanal miners invaded the Gwagwalada site after the accidental discovery of a gold vein during the digging of a soakaway pit near a residential property.

“He recalled that the most recent incident occurred on a farmland located behind Christ the King College (CKC)  in Gwagwalada.

READ ALSO: EFCC arrests four Nigerians, 7 Chinese for illegal mining in Akwa Ibom

“After receiving reports of renewed illegal mining, he immediately ordered the deployment of the marshals to secure the site.

“He stressed that in view of the potential environmental and public health risks associated with the illegal mining operations, the residents should avoid the affected areas while enforcement and remediation efforts are ongoing.

“He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining activities and repositioning the sector for national development.

“The ministry is fast-tracking the deployment of satellite surveillance technology to monitor mining operations nationwide and significantly strengthen enforcement capacity,” the statement read.

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