Fashola Orders Suspension Of Sand Mining

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has ordered the immediate suspension of surface sand mining in Badagry Local Government Area.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Taofiq Tijani, stated this in a release issued in Ikeja .

Tijani said that the order was in response to petitions from “concerned citizens” on the dangers of uncoordinated surface sand mining in the area.

He added that the action was equally premised on the damage done by the miners on the state’s ecosystem.

The commissioner said the governor had initially approved sand mining in shallow creeks in the area, after due diligence of the site and permit granted from the ministry.

He disclosed that the governor had advised miners in the state to form themselves into cooperatives to be able to access loans to acquire equipment needed for shallow creek water dredging.

Tijani said the government would streamline activities of surface sand miners and dredgers in line with international standards.

He warned all stakeholders to adhere strictly to the governor’s directive or face the full wrath of the law.