By Abiola Olawale
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially lifted the ban on mining activities in Zamfara State after it was in place for five years.
The lifting of the ban was announced by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.
Alake said the decision was made due to significant improvements in the security situation across the state.
The Minister also stated that the move aims to reawaken economic activities in Zamfara, which is known for its rich deposits of minerals like gold, lithium, and copper.
Alake stated: “The existential threat to lives and properties that led to the 2019 ban has abated. The security operatives’ giant strides have led to a notable reduction in the level of insecurity, and with the ban on exploration lifted, Zamfara’s mining sector can gradually begin contributing to the nation’s revenue pool.
“Since the beginning of the Tinubu administration, however, intelligence-driven, coordinated security operations have resulted in the neutralization of key bandit commanders, significantly reducing incidents of insecurity. A recent success was the capture of one of the most wanted bandit commanders, Halilu Sububu, in a covert operation in Zamfara.”
It would be recalled that the federal government in 2019 banned mining activities in Zamfara state, ordering foreigners within mining sites to vacate the area immediately.
The government then announced that the move was made because of the rising insecurity in the state.
