Disturbed by the high rates of death recorded as a result of mine dumps left uncovered after mining activities in the country, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola, has inaugurated the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) with membership from each state of the federation to provide solution to the crises associated with the mineral resources production in the communities.

Chief Ishola who expressed the federal government dissatisfaction about the aftermath of mining activities during a brief interview with journalists after the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, said that apart from death cases recorded, there were also issues of land degradation, soil erosion, contamination of water and many others.

He said that he was delighted with the legislative and institutional frameworks now in place, which provided for states, local government and local communities to be integrated into the management of mining activities.

The Mines and Steel Development Minister further explained that the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 section 19 provided for the establishment of state mineral resources and environmental management committee in each state of the federation.

About the functions of the committee, he stated that they were expected to advise, consider, discuss and foster collaboration between the ministry on the one hand and the states and local government’s on the other, in all matters relating to mineral resources, mines environmental management and conflict resolutions between the operator and the mining communities.

Delivering his welcome address earlier before the inauguration, the minister of state Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed Gusau, stressed that the inauguration marked another milestone in the federal government determination to place the mining sector in its proper place in the scheme of national efforts and a logical follow-up to the various efforts aimed at repositioning the industry to fast-track the orderly development of the nation’s mineral resources.

Reminding the public on the need to know that the control of all mineral resources still rested with the Federal Government, he said that the decision to involve the states in federal government affairs was a clear testimony of they Yar’adua-led administration’s resolve and belief in the inter-dependence of all tiers of government. He also urged all state governments to give the newly appointed chairmen the support and cooperation the would need so that the mining communities would benefit from activities taking place in their backyards.