Funmi Peter-Omale
23 May 2002
Jos — Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Chief (Mrs.) Dupe Adeleja, said that Plateau State has become the home of illegal mining.
The minister, who was on a one day working visit to Jos on an inspection tour of parastatal under her ministry stated that illegal mining has eaten deep into the fabric of residents in the state.
In her words: "Plateau State has become the home of illegal mining. It is unfortunate that Plateau State encourages illegal mining activities, and this is not supposed to be so."
Mrs. Adelaja who was speaking while on a courtesy call on the state governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, noted that illegal mining has resulted in child abuse, environmental degradation and loss of revenue to the government.
She therefore called on the state government to co-operate with the ministry in eradicating illegal mining, adding that already the ministry has developed a programme geared towards that.
She disclosed that "the Federal Government is not unmindful of the issue of abandoned mine sites which have posed a great danger to lives and property. We are critically looking at it," she affirmed.
She further stated that as soon as funds are released, "we will start reclaiming those ponds."
Adelaja, however, warned that except illegal mining is nipped in the bud, little success would be achieved in trying to reclaim the land. "The state should not condone illegal mining. Illegal mining activities also directly promotes indecent exposure of our people to deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS because of the influx of people into the mining areas." Condoling the state government on the loss of her colleague, late Ishaya Mark Aku, Adelaja noted that the late minister "left his mark on the sand of time." She also commended the state government for being a good host to one of the biggest parastatals of the ministry."
The state governor who was represented by his deputy, Chief Michael Bot-Mang noted that "Plateau State has suffered too much from mining activities because of the bastardisation of our land."
Speaking on illegal mining activities, the governor stated that there was little his government could do else his administration be dubbed as lacking human feelings. "We can not go about arresting people. They will say this governor doesn't want us to eat..."
He, however, promised that they will co-operate with the ministry in every possible way so that it will be reduced to the barest minimum.
According to him, the state has continued to ask for the lion share from the ecological funds as it appears the state has suffered degradation more than any other state.
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