The Nasarawa State Government has threatened to shut down Matrix Mining Company over alleged unsafe mining practices and the discharge of contaminated processing water into community water sources in Wamba Local Government Area.
The state government said the action was part of efforts to curb illegal mining, protect the environment and prevent the involvement of minors in mining activities across the state.
The government disclosed that a team from the Ministry of Environment, Solid Minerals and Mining, led by the Permanent Secretary, Barrister Y.Y. Edde, had been dispatched to Wamba to investigate and address the concerns.
According to the government, reports received indicated that Matrix Mining Company had been discharging processing water containing harmful chemicals into the community’s mainstream water sources, potentially exposing residents to health and environmental risks.
Consequently, the company has been directed to suspend major mining activities with immediate effect and report to the Ministry of Environment, Solid Minerals and Mining on Tuesday next week.
The government warned that failure by the company to comply with the directive would lead to a complete shutdown of its operations.
The state government also advised residents of communities around the affected mining operations to take precautionary measures, including purifying their water before using it for domestic purposes.
Meanwhile, the government urged artisanal miners operating in Wamba and other local government areas to register as cooperatives, saying the move would facilitate better regulation, management and monitoring of their activities.
The government reiterated its commitment to enforcing environmental standards in the mining sector while ensuring that mining activities contribute to economic development without endangering the health and safety of host communities.
