By Emmanuel Awari – Jalingo
Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, has met with artisanal miners and other stakeholders in the mining sector, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to safe, lawful and productive mining activities across the state.
The meeting was held at the Banquet Hall of the TY Danjuma House in Jalingo.
The gathering brought together government officials, mining stakeholders, miners’ associations and representatives of mining communities to discuss challenges confronting artisanal and small-scale mining in Taraba State.
Governor Kefas said he convened the meeting because mining is closely linked to the livelihood and wellbeing of many families across the state.
He said the government must listen to those engaged in the sector, understand their challenges and provide the necessary support to enable them to operate within the law and improve productivity.
The governor announced plans to develop the Taraba Responsible Artisanal Mining and Community Health Standards, aimed at promoting safer mining practices and protecting communities affected by mining activities.
According to him, the initiative will focus on protecting water sources, training miners and health workers, as well as establishing a system for reporting and addressing dangerous mining practices.
Governor Kefas also called on miners’ associations to work with the government by reaching out to their members and ensuring that relevant policies are properly understood and implemented.
Speaking on the theme of the meeting, “Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Activities, Effects on the Environment and Mining Communities, and the Way Forward for Sustainable Development in Taraba State,” the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Solid Minerals, Mr Matsai David Angye, described the engagement as timely.
He said the government was not seeking to stop artisanal miners from earning a living but to organise, train and empower them for safer and more productive operations.
Representatives of artisanal miners from different parts of the state also presented their concerns and demands to the government.
The occasion featured the presentation of an award to Governor Kefas, recognising him as the “Most Mining-Friendly Governor.”
Governor Kefas also presented dummy cheques totalling ₦2.5 billion for various intervention programmes.
The funds include ₦500 million for Taraba CARES to support vulnerable households, ₦1 billion for the Taraba State Youth Development Agency, and another ₦1 billion for relief efforts in Karim Lamido and other crisis-affected communities across the state.
Governor Kefas directed the relevant committees to ensure that the funds are judiciously utilised, stressing the need for honesty, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the programmes.