Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake said the government is exploring ways to minimise adverse impacts of mining on the environment.
He added that the government was seeking to do so while considering International best practices. Alake said this on Monday, January 15, in Abuja while receiving the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant Media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, the Federal Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Environment are firming up to ensure that mining operations in the country have minimal adverse effect on the environment.
Alake reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to securing mining areas whilst removing bottlenecks to seamless operations. He added that all mining activities must conform with global standards to make impact on the environment, very negligible.
“Lawal emphasised that issues around security in mining sites and the need to protect the environment from degradation as a result of mining operations dominated deliberations with his host.
Tomori added, “Recently, the Minister launched a solid minerals roadmap, which I think took care of the issue of the environment because whenever there is mining, the environment will be affected one way or the other. So, we are working very closely to see that whatever is being done will be within the limit of tolerable impact on the environment,” the Minister added.
