The Kano state Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources has issued a stern warning to local miners against encroaching on village settlements during mining activities.
The Director of Environmental Protection, Control, and Safety, Sha’aya’u Jibrin delivered the warning during an assessment tour of a mining site in Zainabi village in Doguwa Local Government Area.
According to a statement by the ministry’s Director of Public Enlightenment, Adamu Ibrahim Dabo, Jibrin expressed concern over the environmental damage caused by artisanal miners operating near residential areas. He ordered local miners to halt further encroachment and begin land reclamation by refilling excavated areas with suitable soil.
Jibrin explained that the move was aimed at restoring the environment and allowing locals to plant economic trees, which would provide long-term benefits beyond mining.
The Commissioner of the ministry of solid minerals and natural resources, Hamza Safiyanu Kachako acknowledged the environmental challenges posed by unregulated mining but expressed hope that the entry of formal investors would help reshape the sector and benefit host communities.
