FCTA To Stop Illegal Mining In Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, has commenced moves to curb all illegal mining operations within Abuja.

The decision by the authority follows the dangers such activities pose to the health of residents in the mining communities.

The FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, disclosed this in a statement endorsed by his Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, following a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

The minister said some illegal mining companies began gold mining operations in Kutasa community of the Abuja Municipal Area Council with the tendency of polluting the community’s water source.

Bello said what the Federal Capital Development Authority saw during a visit to the area was, “something of great concern to us as an administration.”

He said, “In our records, we had no inkling whatsoever that the company was even granted a mining lease to prospect for gold in an area within the FCT.”

He added that the company reached an agreement with the local communities without the knowledge of the traditional structure and the structure of the local government administration.

The minister said that the actions were, “obviously, wrong, because they are totally against existing policy of mining.”

Bello further disclosed that the FCTA was also in discussion with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to improve the quality of the wáter of Jabi lake in Abuja.

He said population expansion coupled with human activity has tempered with the quality of the Lake.

The artificial lake draws its supply from the Katampe Hills.

The Minister of Water Resources, Sulaiman Adamu, said that issues of water pollution emanating from mining activities was of great concern to his Ministry considering the issue of lead poisoning in Niger State caused by mining activities in 2016.