*Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani
The Kaduna State Government is working to formalise the grouping of over 10,000 artisans miners into clusters because of their capacity to contribute to the economy and the export market.
Managing Director of Kaduna Mining Development Company, Alhaji Shuaibu Kabir Bello, stated this at a strategic engagement on the establishment of solid minerals clusters, aggregation centres organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Kaduna.
“We are actively engaged in the formalisation of artisanal miners, working diligently to organise them into clusters for effective aggregation, ” Bello said. “This initiative not only enhances their productivity but also ensures that we can collect accurate data on both the miners and their outputs.
“By formalising these operations, we are paving the way for better resource management, improved safety standards and increased market access for these miners.
“As we look to the future, I urge all stakeholders to join us in this clarion call for the formalisation of artisanal miners. By doing so, we can unlock significant value addition opportunities that will not only benefit the miners themselves but also contribute to the overall development of the mining sector.”
The state coordinator of the NEPC, Kabiru Yusuf, noted that Kaduna State is endowed with vast solid mineral resources with significant deposits spread across its 23 local government areas.
He said the establishment of solid minerals clusters and aggregation centers is a strategic initiative aimed at unlocking the full potential of our mineral resources, creating jobs and boosting the internally generated revenue.
Declaring the event open, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Business lnnovation and Technology, Mrs Patience Fakai commended the NEPC and Kaduna Mining Development Company for bringing together miners, processors, exporters, investors and regulatory bodies. She said the collaborative efforts underscore the determination to unlock vast potential of our solid minerals sector.
Fakai said Kaduna State is richly endowed with solid minerals such as gold, tin, lithium, and gemstone.
“These resources if harnessed strategically can serve as a cornerstone for sustainable development, job creation and export competitiveness,” she said.
