Zamfara State government has said it never claimed exclusivity of the solid mineral deposits in the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Solid Development, Nurudeen Isah, stated this while addressing journalists about the controversy the gold in the state has generated in recent times.
The Zamfara State Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals Development said that most of those who have mining sites in the state come from different parts of the country.
He said, the Zamfara State government has no mining site but is working with the Federal Ministry of Mine and Steel Development, to stop illegal miners, who exchange the gold for arms.
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The Commissioner described the reaction trailing the mining of gold in the state by some Nigerians as a function of misunderstanding, misinformation and sheer mischief.
He stressed that the Zamfara State government has no intention to desecrating the Nigerian constitution.
Isah said the interest of the sytate government is to participate, like any other interested buyer, to purchase the gold, so that it can get revenue to cater for its citizens’ needs.
He reiterated the commitment of the Bello Mohammed led government to uphold the constitutional provisions, as regards mineral resources, in Zamfara State.
( Editor: Omor Bazuaye)
