Kogi state government has banned all forms of illegal mining across the 21 local government areas of the state.
The stoppage of illegal mining was made known by the Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Bashiru Gegu, while briefing newsmen on Friday.
Gegu noted that “as a collaborating and policy implementation support of the state Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, nobody or company will be allowed to explore or carry out mining of any mineral in the state except they provide license from the Federal Government or cooperative certificates for artisanal miners and valid community development agreements.
“Security agencies in the state are hereby expected to swing into action by bringing any erring body or company to face the law. Those who are mining without the requisite federal government-approved licenses are illegal miners.”
The commissioner said Kogi state government will no longer condone any form of illegal mining henceforth, as those found breaking the law will be prosecuted.
