Kebbi debunks claims of supporting illegal mining in Ngaski local Government Area

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By El-Yakub Dabai, Birnin Kebbi

Kebbi State Government has refuted claims made in an online publication by www.truthng.com alleging its support for illegal mining activities in Libata, Ngaski Local Government Area.

The Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development and Mining, Haliru Aliyu Wasagu, made the clarification during a press briefing on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi with the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi and the Governor’s Media Aides in attendance

Wasagu pointed out that since the advent of the incumbent administration of Governor Nasir Idris, government had placed premium in sanitizing the mining sector in the state by ensuring that licenced mining companies adhere strictly to rules and regulations governing the sector.

He said although Mining was on Federal Government Exclusive Legislative List, Kebbi had consistently been complementary to all actions of preventing illegal mining, stressing that it would be foolhardy for anyone to accuse the state government of supporting such act.

“In Kebbi, we have effective monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with necessary laws pertaining to environment, corporate social responsibility and internally generated revenue”, the Commissioner explained.

The Commissioner announced that Kebbi State Government had so far approved and cleared seven mining companies to operate within the Libata area of Ngaski Local Government, with strict protocols put in place to ensure compliance with the laid down rules and regulations.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmad Birnin Kebbi, said, as the popular choice of the people of Kebbi, Governor Nasir Idris, had already entrenched an indelible legacy of progress and prosperity in all socioeconomic sectors of the state, not forgetting the security of lives and property.

“No mud slinging or obnoxious accusations from the opposition parties can take him off course from service delivery through excellence

“The false accusation that the government is supporting illegal mining is continuing antics by the opposition out of frustration to demean the administration

“They are jealous of the remarkable progress on ground recorded by Governor Nasir Idris in uplifting the wellbeing of the populace, unparalleled in the history of Kebbi”, Birnin Kebbi emphasised.