The Kebbi state government has described a report from one online newspaper (NOT GLOBAL TRACKER) alleging that the state government has been supporting Illegal mining as baseless and untrue claims.
It said, to put on record, the state government have never in anyway directly or indirectly support Illegal mining in any part of the state or the country as a whole.
While briefing journalist in Birnin Kebbi, the State Commissioner for solid minerals development and mining, Halliru Aliyu Wasagu stated that, the administration of governor Nasir Idris, has placed premium on sanitizing the mining sector in the state by ensuring that licenced mining companies adhere strictly to rules and regulations governing the sector.
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According to him, government had made it an order prohibiting Emirs, District Heads or any individual to sign consent letter to any mining company saying the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Mining is the only regulatory authority to issue permission for the sector.
The Commissioner said the state has effective monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with necessary laws pertaining to environment, corporate social responsibility and internally generated revenue.
Wasagu announced that, Kebbi State Government has approved and cleared seven mining companies to operate within the Libata area with strict adherence to ensuring compliance with the laid down rules and regulations.
He said the false accusation that, government is supporting illegal mining is continuing antics by the opposition out of frustration to demean the administration, therefore called on the public to consider the unfounded claim in the report of the online media as untrue.