LAST week, worried by the recent incident of lead poisoning in Bugundu Local Government Area of Zamfare State, the Federal Government warned illegal miners to immediately vacate all sites in the state. In a statement by his special assistant on media, Segun Tomori, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, declared that all mining activities would remain on hold until the release of standard operating procedures that would enable the resumption of exploration in the state. According to him, the ban on mining in the state in the last six years should ordinarily have precluded lead poisoning. He surmised that the outbreak was evidence that traditional and local institutions had allowed illegal miners to operate in their areas in flagrant violation of the ban. He said: “Every citizen should obey the laws and regulations established by constituted authorities. Our revered traditional institutions and local authorities, which are funded from the Federation Account, have an even higher responsibility to enforce government directives. However, where they demonstrate willful negligence and abdicate their responsibilities, they perpetrate a state of anomie with dire consequences, as we are witnessing in this case.”
Commending the Zamfara State government for deploying emergency services to the area, Alake called for more collaboration between the state and officials of the ministry in the state. He added that to ameliorate the situation, the ministry would soon release comprehensive standard operating procedures to guide the resumption of mining in Zamfara. The procedures, he explained, would address cases of existing holders of mining licenses and fresh applicants, compliance with community development agreements, and beneficiation and remediation efforts to overhaul the mining sector in the state. The minister added that the recent approval of the deployment of satellite technology to monitor mining nationwide would put an end to illegal mining and other sharp practices in the sector. He added: “We must work together to kick out illegal miners from all corners to protect the lives of innocent citizens endangered by the desperation of a few individuals to make money at all costs.”
To say the very least, the lead poisoning case in Bugundu is unfortunate. Given that Zamfara, like many other states in the country, is battling the onslaught of terrorists codenamed bandits, the lead poisoning disaster represents a double tragedy for the beleaguered populace. Only on Tuesday, one person was confirmed dead, two others injured, and 20 others abducted following an onslaught by criminals on Gabake Mesa, a village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state. It is extremely hazardous for a population facing existential security threats to, at the same time, be battling environmental pollution, specifically the contamination of their soil, their water, and the very air they breathe.
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As is common knowledge, lead is a toxic substance that causes serious health problems, especially in children. When lead builds up in the body, often due to exposure to lead-based products, contaminated water or polluted environments, it is called lead poisoning. Whether through ingestion, inhalation or skin contact, lead poisoning causes a lot of harm. Among other deleterious effects, it causes fatigue, headache and abdominal pain. It is a no-brainer that lead poisoning can affect various organs and systems in the body, including the brain and nervous system, blood and cardiovascular system, and the kidneys. Lead poisoning hampers development in children, and prevention strategies necessarily involves reducing exposure to lead sources such as lead-based paint, contaminated water, and polluted environments. Sufferers need to be examined by healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment, and need to use lead-free products, keep their homes clean, wash their hands often, especially in the case of children, and ensure adequate nutrition, including calcium, iron and vitamin C, which can help to reduce lead absorption.
According to experts, illegal mining, particularly artisanal and small-scale gold mining, can significantly contribute to lead poisoning through lead contamination. This is because many gold deposits contain lead, which is often released into the environment during the mining process. In addition, mercury is commonly used to extract gold. Because some gold deposits also contain lead, the use of mercury increases lead’s bioavailability. Then there is the issue of environmental pollution. Illegal miners have no care in the world for environmental safeguards, and so they pollute the soil, water sources such as rivers, streams and groundwater, and the air. That is why rather than handing down ultimatums to the economic saboteurs engaged in illegal mining in Zamfara State, the Federal Government should deploy every arsenal at its disposal and crush them completely. The brains behind the illegal mining in Zamfara State have no care for the people or the government; they care only for themselves and their nefarious business. The government, therefore, has to enforce its own rules by crippling their activities and prosecuting them diligently in the court of law. They should be in jail, not in town causing harm.
The people of Bugundu and other areas in Zamfara State have suffered enough. They should not be subjected to further suffering through no fault of theirs. Human life should not be trifled with. Through public enlightenment, strict enforcement of environmental regulations and promotion of safe mining practices, the government should make mining a safe exercise in Zamfara. It should not allow illegal miners any more leverage.
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