“Too many Nigerians are suffering, unable to access effective medical treatment for the resulting ailments, losing loved ones and suffering deformities of varying degrees,” she said
Browsing: lead poisoning
He said that MSF treated the lead poison victims and facilitated the remediation of the affected areas in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment to ensure children were no longer exposed to the contaminant.
“Experience in Nigeria and elsewhere shows that the attempt to prevent artisanal miners from operating because they are illegal is often futile and only drives them further aground, away from formal the economy and legal framework,” he noted.
He regretted that the harsh economic situation in the country has pushed many people in illegal mining and exploration in the state thereby endangering their lives and those of members of the community where they operate.
Lead can be found in all parts of the environment such as through the air, soil, water and homes while exposure to lead comes from human activities such as the use of fossil fuels, industrial facilities, lead-based paint in homes among others.
“We feel that in areas where mining is no longer taking place, we really should assist the community and the constituencies to reclaim the land and put it back to use and we are doing it within the limit of resources available to the ministry.”
Artisanal and illegal mining of solid minerals pervade the entire country leaving behind their effects on the environment. Most of these artisanal and illegal miners (men, women and children) are rural and poor and usually work without legal mining title.