BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,MINNA<\/p>\n
The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reforming and regulating the mining sector to boost economic growth and protect local communities.<\/p>\n
The Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Muhammad Qasim Danjuma stated this during an interview with journalists, where he highlighted ongoing efforts to address illegal mining and attract genuine investors into the state.<\/p>\n
Danjuma described Niger State as one of the most blessed in Nigeria in terms of mineral deposits, noting that proper management of these resources could significantly improve the state\u2019s economy and infrastructure.<\/p>\n
According to him, \u201cNiger State has witnessed several administrations since its creation in 1976, but the current era is bringing remarkable transformation across all the 25 local government areas, especially in infrastructure development.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Commissioner commended the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, describing his emergence as a \u201cdivine opportunity\u201d for the people of the state. He said the administration has demonstrated strong commitment, dedication, and visible development projects, unlike previous governments that made promises without delivering.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the mining sector, Danjuma explained that the Ministry of Mineral Resources was created in 2017 after being separated from the Ministry of Environment. Since then, efforts have been made to reposition the sector for better performance.<\/p>\n
He, however, identified illegal mining as a major challenge affecting the sector. According to him, many individuals and groups operate without proper licenses or community consent, thereby causing environmental damage and security concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cIllegal miners and some cartels are exploiting the state\u2019s resources for personal gain. This is a serious problem we are working hard to address,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Commissioner explained that for anyone to operate legally, they must obtain a valid license from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and also secure consent from host communities and clearance from the state government.<\/p>\n
He further noted that the state has introduced new procedures requiring mining companies to engage host communities, ensure environmental protection, and contribute to local development through Community Development Agreements (CDAs).<\/p>\n
Qasim Danjani added that the government is also encouraging artisanal miners to form cooperatives, which will enable them to operate legally and benefit from government support.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working to formalize their activities, provide guidance, and ensure they contribute positively to the economy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On enforcement, the Commissioner disclosed that several illegal miners have been arrested, while operations are ongoing to identify and remove others across the state.<\/p>\n
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration with security agencies and federal authorities to curb illegal activities and prevent insecurity linked to unregulated mining.<\/p>\n
The Commissioner assured that the government is creating a conducive environment for both local and foreign investors, stating that registered companies operating legally in the state are given full support and protection.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf properly managed, the mining sector can generate revenue for the government and fund critical projects such as roads, hospitals, and other infrastructure,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Danjuma reiterated that the ultimate goal of the government is to ensure that mining activities benefit the people of Niger State while safeguarding the environment and maintaining peace in mining communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,MINNA The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reforming and regulating the mining sector to boost economic growth and protect local communities. The Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Muhammad Qasim Danjuma stated this during an interview with journalists, where he highlighted ongoing efforts to address illegal mining and attract genuine investors into […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1979,6474],"class_list":["post-13080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-economy","tag-remarkable","tag-transformatio"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13080"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13080\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13082,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13080\/revisions\/13082"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}