The Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr Ngeri Benebo, says the body is determined to expose miners to sustainable techniques in line with global best practices.

Benebo gave the assurance on Wednesday in Ilesa, Osun, while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of a workshop on sustainable mining practices and techniques for gold miners.

She said the agency was worried about the impact of certain mining activities on the health of miners and the environment.

“If you are in the mining business, you must think of the environment and your own health by using protective devices to check the hazards of heavy metals,” she said.

She also cautioned against describing all locals engaged in mining as illegal miners, saying they were like other Nigerians in the labour market trying to earn a living.

“In this case, those who work at the Ilesa gold mine cannot be considered illegal miners because they are Nigerians, some of who are even natives of the community.

“They are not illegal miners because they have an association and leaders. They will not come out to a forum like this if what they do is illegal,” she said.

According to her, what the miners need is re-orientation to enable them engage in proper documentation with the relevant agencies of government.