05 January 2014, Gusau -The Zamfara State Government yesterday said it has approved N300 million to conduct a census of its natural mineral resources across the state. The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Mukhtar Lugga, announced this in an interview with newsmen in Gusau.
Lugga said the state government had already bought machines and was partnering with foreign mining experts to realise the goal by January ending. He said the project would start in Maru and Anka local government areas of the state and called on the communities to cooperate with the government.
He said the state was endowed with various mineral resources, adding that the exercise would help the government to identify all its natural mineral resources. According to him government will invite more than 4,000 licensed mining companies in the state to discuss issues on improved mining activities. He appealed to the state House of Assembly to formulate laws that would guide and regulate mining activities in the state. The commissioner said that the lawmakers had an important role to play in ensuring effective mining process in the state. He also said that mining activities required legislative backing to succeed.
– NAN
