The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said on Wednesday that it would put an end to all illegal mining operations within the territory due to the dangers pose to the health of residents of the communities.
The FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello made this known when he led a delegation from the FCTA on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Water Resources, Sulaiman Adamu.
Bello, who decried illegal mining operations in the FCT, condemned the activities of a company which operates gold mining business in the Abuja Municipal Area Council without obtaining proper permits from the relevant authorities.
He noted the operations of the company have grave implication for the community, including polluting the source of its water.
Reacting to the fact finding visit to the area by the FCDA, the Minister said “what they saw is something of great concern to us as an administration, particularly because in our records, we have no inkling whatsoever that the company was even granted a mining lease to prospect for gold in an area within the FCT and the company went ahead and entered into agreements with the local communities without the knowledge of the traditional structure, as well as the local government administration structure. All these, obviously, are wrong, because they are totally against existing policy of mining.”
The Minister commended the Ministry of Water Resources for drawing the attention of the Administration to the activities and dangers posed by the activities of illegal miners.
He disclosed that the FCTA was in discussion with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to improve the quality of the water from Jabi Lake in Abuja.
According to the Minister, population expansion coupled with human activity has compromised the water quality of the Lake which is entirely manmade and draws its supply from the Katampe Hills.
He said FCTA was interfacing with the Ministry to enhance its quality.
On the eradication of open defecation in the country, Bello commended his Water Resources counterpart saying “I commend you for your efforts regarding the open defecation Executive Order and all the efforts you have done and the targets you have set for us as a country.”
Earlier, the Minister of Water Resources, Adamu, commended the FCTA for its action regarding the mining activities at Kutasa community.
He said the issues of water pollution emanating from mining activities was of great concern to his ministry considering the issue of lead poisoning in Niger State as a result of mining activities in 2016.
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