From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Government has disclosed that the present administration is not encouraging illegal mining activities in the state. It also stated that Lukarawa, a new terrorist group, had been pushed out from the state with the number of cattle recovered by the troop.
Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development and Mining, Alhaji Haliru Aliyu Wasagu, confirmed this development at a press conference in Birnin Kebbi alongside his counterparts, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Ahmad Yakubu.
While speaking against the allegation of encouraging illegal mining activities at Libata, Ngaski LGA by the opposition party, Wasagu noted that the allegation was false and had no iota of truth in it.
“In the specific case of Libata, Ngaski LGA, Three Crowns Company was issued a license by the Mining Cadastral Office, Abuja, for a total landmass of 5.4 square kilometres (27 cadastral units). Subsequently, a portion of this land, square kilometres or 10 cadastral units, was allocated to El-Tahdam Exploitation Limited.
“This overlap caused by the Mining Cadastral Office, Abuja, led to a dispute between the two companies. It is important to emphasise that the Kebbi State Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Mining has no involvement in this conflict.
“While Three Crown Company registered with the state government in 2023, the El-Tahdam Company did their own in 2024. Three Crown fully completed the licensing process from the state to the federal level.”
He said the Kebbi State Government has already approved and cleared seven companies to operate within the Libata area in the state.
The Commissioner added that the government has given protocols and rules they must comply with, such as registration with the ministry, obtaining an introduction letter, applying for license at Abuja Cadastral Office as well as collecting issuance of permit and clearance before operation at various allocated areas.
While speaking on the Kebbi State Government’s readiness to promptly address the urgent issue, Yakubu disclosed that due to the state government’s prompt interventions, Lakurawa terrorist group has been dislodged from the state with high number of cattle recovered from Augie LGA of the state.
Yakubu disclosed that the state government would never allow illegal mining activities in the state because the government is seriously looking for revenue to meet up its obligations to the electorates and would not condone any act that would affect its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
He advised the opposition party to criticise the state government constructively based on facts, stressing that the opposition parties in the state ought to appreciate the current administration which has been working hard to improve the economy of the state, infrastructure facilities, and welfare of the people, so as to put the state in the right position among its contemporaries.