The Kebbi State Government is partnering with the Federal Government under the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) on formalization of Artisinal Miners in the State for Gold production with the support of Columbia University, New York, USA.
The Governor, Sen. Abubakar
Atiku Bagudu in a meeting with SMDF led by Hajia Fatima Shinkafi and
Columbia University on March 21 in Abuja stated that his administration
is supporting a pilot programme to organise & support miners to give
them better technology and an available market. The pilot programmes
approved by President Buhari will commence in Kebbi & Osun States.
The
Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Team
will aid the SMDF in fulfilling its objectives by developing a report
that analyzes the challenges preventing formalization of Artisanal &
Small Scale Mining (ASM) in Nigeria and suggests ways for the SMDF to
incentivize formalization through a strategic use of its capital
resources.
A world bank report puts the outflow of illegally
mined gold leaving Nigeria at $500m a year. This represents a huge
revenue loss for both State and Federal governments in addition to
environmental degradation to farming communities and pollution of
waterways for people and livestock.
Special focus will be placed
on how the SMDF can work with other institutions in accordance with
section 34 of the 2007 Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act to register
formalize operators and how the SMDF can leverage its financial capital
to provide funding and/or services to support the ASM value chain.
Governor
Bagudu reiterated his administrations continued focus on creating jobs
and support for the diversification of the economy which is a priority
of the Buhari administration. It can be recalled that the Governor is an
alumnus of Columbia University where he obtained his M.A in
International Affairs.
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