The Federal Government has trained 55 mining cooperatives through its extension service programme in the North-West zone, according to an official.
Obiora Azubike, the Director of Department of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, said in Gusau, Zamfara, that the training would ensure safety during mining operations.
Azubike, who was represented by Mangder Samuel, the Chief Technical Officer in the ministry, spoke at the opening of a five-day training programme.
The miners were from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa and Kebbi States .
The focus of the training was provision of extension services for mining cooperatives, quarry associations and small-scale mining companies.
Azubike advised miners to use hand gloves, overalls (protective garment), helmets, nose masks, ear muffs, safety boots and rain boots during mining.
He urged the miners to comply with the rules and regulations guiding their operations, adding that this would increase their productivity.
“It will also boost the revenue being generated for the country and the host communities,” he said.
The director said that the Federal Government and the World Bank believed that small-scale mining could contribute
Significantly to the economic development of the country if properly coordinated.
“Today, the Nigerian mining industry continues to be dominated by artisans and small-scale miners.”
According to Azubike, small-scale miners are engaged in over 34 different minerals, including gold, lead, zinc, gypsum, gemstones and limestone across the country.
“Artisans and small-scale miners produce over 90 per cent of the solid minerals in the country,” he said.
He, however, advised illegal miners to acquire operating licence, stressing that “This will enable them to receive training and support from the government as well as having secured tenure and access to finance,” he said.
Azubike, however, reminded the miners of some of the dangers associated with mining including physical, chemical, ergonomic and psychological hazards.
He listed minerals that contain toxic materials as arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, thallium, vanadium and zinc.
He added that lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury were more toxic than the listed minerals.
“Lead can affect the nervous system, blood, gastro-intestinal system, renal system, endocrine system and also cause low sperm count in men and miscarriages in women.
“Arsenic can cause respiratory problems, cancer and cardiovascular problems by decreasing blood circulation and increasing systolic blood pressure. It can also cause skin diseases and pigmentation,” Azubike said.
Meanwhile, at another event in Gusau, Azubuike called for the establishment of schools in mining communities to curb child labour in mines and quarries.
Azubike who made the call at a one-day Road Show Awareness Campaign on Elimination of Child Labour in Mines and Quarries, said that the major factor responsible for child labour in the mining areas was poverty.
Azubike, who was represented by the Desk Officer (Child labour) in the ministry, Hasana Sha’aba, said that “At all the mining sites visited across the country, the parents and children explained that poverty was the main reason for children engaged in mining and quarrying.”
He said that social discrimination was another factor responsible for child labour in the country, adding that the involvement of children in mining and quarrying activities was a setback as the number of school drop-outs had been increasing.
“This situation has deprived children of the right to education. The parents tend to consider their children’s work as a social asset.
“Part of the complaints by the children is that the schools are sited far away from their communities,” Azubike said.
He said that international practices prohibited children from mining and quarrying activities.
He said that the trend was hazardous and was causing the children to suffer from all manner of diseases.
According to him, the situation also exposes children to physical, psychological or sexual abuse, unhealthy environment, drug abuse and noise levels or vibrations which damage their health.
He cited the 1989 UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, which provided for the right of children to be protected from hazardous work, economic exploitation and any work likely to interfere with the child’s education.
Azubike advised government to improve on social services such as education for children, improved health services and new technology for mining exploitation.
He appealed to the parents in the country to stop allowing their children to go into menial employments, saying that it was harmful.
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