By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Hon. Muhammad Danjuma Kasim, has launched a database...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Hon. Muhammad Danjuma Kasim, has launched a database registration programme aimed at profiling miners across the state.
Speaking shortly after inaugurating the programme, Kasim explained that the initiative is a collaborative effort between the Niger State Government and the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW). According to him, the programme is designed to sanitize the mining sector and create a comprehensive database of miners and mining companies operating within the state.
He said the exercise would enable authorities to gather vital information about miners, including their identities, places of origin, and places of work.
The Commissioner noted that individuals who refuse to participate in the registration exercise would be regarded with suspicion, adding that anyone found operating outside the system could face investigation by security agencies.
Kasim further stated that the state government endorsed the programme after consultations with the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers. He explained that only individuals who have attained the legal working age of 18 years would be eligible for registration. He also emphasized that registrants must possess a National Identification Number (NIN) or provide a credible guarantor.
In an interview with journalists, the Niger State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers, Comrade Musa Adamu Nasko, disclosed that the programme had already commenced in Borgu and Magama Local Government Areas, while other local government areas would be covered in subsequent phases.
Nasko said the exercise would be carried out in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure smooth implementation. He added that the state government had pledged its full support to the project.
According to him, the registration exercise is expected to last for 30 days. He explained that the union would review the outcome of the exercise upon completion and determine whether an extension would be necessary.
He urged members of the union and stakeholders in the mining sector to cooperate with officials conducting the registration to ensure its success.
The database system was introduced by the Niger State Government to establish a comprehensive record of miners and mining companies operating in the state, thereby promoting accountability, security, and effective regulation of the mining industry.
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