Nigeria is blessed with abundant mineral resources with some of the world’s finest stones traceable to the country.seven strategic mineralsApart from oil and gas, gold is the most valuable mineral resource in the country. Nigerian gold is said to have gained popularity within and outside the region. For example, reports show that the Maru gold from Zamfara State is identified by sight and called “Zamfara” at the Dubai gold souk by gold merchants.
During the year, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative said only 43 mineral buying centres had 325 valid licenses with an official gold output quantity of 1,212.77 ounces estimated at N11.69 billion, with a gross royalty payment of N6.46 million by 31 companies. Zamfara State is known for notorious illegal mining operations which were believed to be fueling insecurity in the state and its environs. This made the President place a ban on mining activities in 2019 and in 2020 declared a “no-fly zone” on the state as a measure to curb insecurity.of lead poisoning was discovered in Zamfara State by an aid group where over 400 inhabitants, mostly children under the age of five, died of contamination from lead poisoning which originated from gold mining.
He said: “There will be a lot of critical investment and articles of artisanal miners, and the value creation that will come to them. Over the years, they have fallen into the hands of bandits and evil people but we are going to have a formalised way, a structured way that the state and federal will be involved and this will help in bringing further prosperity especially to the women.”
He said: “Pertaining to mining, we have mining areas in the southern part of Kano where white men used to settle, and up till now, you can find the pits and even the local miners are always entering that place trying to get gold and other minerals in that area. Recently, Thor Explorations, a Canadian mining company began a large-scale gold mining in Nigeria and is set to pay it’s first royalty to the federal government, as said by its CRO, Segun Lawson at the just concluded 5th annual mining week.
He, however, lauded the intervention, saying; “It will go a long way in showcasing what we have in Nigeria and attract markets from the neighboring countries. He said for obvious reasons, he takes his goods at the end of each day to the bank for safety. He, therefore, charged the government on the need for quality and adequate security to keep the market safe from criminals.However, there seems to be a lack of awareness and sensitisation among the marketers as most of them claim they are not aware of the gold souk.