Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has issued an Executive Order to protect mining communities and enable government verify legal status of mining companies operating in the state.
Mr Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources made the disclosure at a press conference on Wednesday in Lafia.
According to the commissioner, Executive Order No. 2, 2022 is also aimed at ensuring that adequate security is provided to mining communities.
Kwanta said that the Order also mandated that institutional and technical support be provided to artisanal miners in various communities of the state.
He explained that under the order, all mining companies together with their host communities are to submit two copies of previous agreements they had to the ministry for vetting before Jan. 30.
“Mining entities arriving the state with authority of the Federal Government to carry out mining must report to the ministry to verify their legal status, citizenship and background before settlement in the communities.
“All mining entities arriving and doing business in the state must report to the ministry for the purpose of documentation and identification of their operational status for peace and security.
“All mining entities doing business in the state must ensure that they pay all mining and other related taxes, levies, fees, charges promptly to the Central Billing System domiciled with the
