Minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello has disclosed that the Chinese mining company operating in the nation’s capital has no lease to mine gold.
In a meeting with the minister of water resources Suleiman Adamu on Tuesday August 18, Bello who confirmed that Hongao Mining Company Limited acted against Nigeria’s mining policy also disclosed that they polluted the only water source for at least six communities in Karshi area of the FCT.
A physio-chemical analysis carried out on the stream by the FCT water board, revealed that the water had high levels of turbidity, nitrate and iron and may need further treatment.
In a statement released by spokesman of the ministry of water resources Kenechukwu Offie, Bello was quoted saying;
“The company undertaking the mining activities in Kutasa Community was not granted lease to mine gold in that Community”.
It was further gathered that Adamu has directed officials of the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) to investigate the matter.
The statement added;
“The outcome of the investigation revealed that ‘Gold’ mining activities was taking place in that Community.
“Engr. Adamu said that the report from Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission indicated ‘a red flag’ to us that must not be allowed to fly further.
“Engr. Adamu, therefore, reiterated that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, will not allow the experience of Niger State where people died of lead poisoning to repeat itself in FCT.
“The FCT Minister corroborated the Hon. Minister of Water Resources’s position that their various reports would need to be harmonised into a working document before they take up the matter with the Minister of Mines and Steel Development.”
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