Miners in Kwara State have been enjoined to join hands with the state government in its efforts to curb the activities of illegal miners from neighbouring states.

The state Commissioner for Industry and Solid Mineral Development, Alhaji Umar Baiwa Aliu made the call recently during the meeting held with the Emir of Gwanara, Alhaji Abdullahi Sabi Idris, representatives of Baruteen Local Government, stakeholders and some village heads in Patigi Local Government Area of the state.

Alhaji Aliyu said that the issue of illegal mining in the country is posing a serious threat to the socio-economic development of the country, pointing out that if their activities were properly coordinated, it could serve as a good source of revenue and employment generation for the teeming youths in the state and the country as a whole.

The commissioner, therefore, reiterated the state government’s determination to put all necessary machinery in motion across the state to curb illegal mining that were scattered all over the local government areas of the state.

Aliyu, who disclosed that Kwara State government has introduced new revenue that would be collected from the miners as well as the dealers and other operators at the sites advised the miners to form themselves into cooperative groups so as to benefit from the government assistance to enable them expand and modernise their operations in order to meet the present trends in the mining industry.

He added that no traditional ruler should sign any consent paper with the miners without the knowledge of the state government.

Responding, the Emir of Gwanara, Alhaji Idris advised the state government to collect the revenue with full authority by employing security agents to work with the team that might be appointed for the collection of the revenue and pledge his support and cooperation towards the success of the programme in his domain.