The Nasarawa state government and the Republic of China have set up a task force to stop illegal mining in Nasarawa state.
In a meeting that took place at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, in Abuja, Yusuf Jubril Maiangwa, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Liaison discussed the infiltration of Chinese illegal miners into Nasarawa state.
The Maiangwa said Sule was worried about the activities of illegal miners which posed a serious danger to the socio-economic and well-being of the people of Nasarawa state.
Maiangwa said the governor was committed to turning Nasarawa into an industrial state using all legitimate means at his disposal, hence the need to discourage illegal mining.
Responding the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, represented by his Deputy Zhang Yi welcomed the idea and pledged to collaborate with the state government in addressing the menace, especially its negative impact on the ecosystem.
He advised that the state government should make available accurate statistics on the Chinese illegal mining companies to the Embassy for possible action.
The meeting resolved that the Chinese Ambassador will officially visit Governor Abdullahi Sule in Lafia at a later date for further discussions on the issue and other areas of interest for the development of Nasarawa state.
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