By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
In a bid to formalize local mining activities in line with Federal Government laws, the Bauchi State Ministry of Natural Resources Development, in collaboration with Bladira Global Consulting Firm Limited, has trained 114 youths as enumerators. These enumerators will be deployed across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas to capture data on mining activities.
At the flag-off ceremony, Bauchi State Commissioner of Natural Resources Development, Muhammad Maiwada Bello, stated that the initiative aims to streamline the mining sector, promote economic growth, and ensure environmental sustainability.
He said that, after the training, the enumerators will gather data on all informal miners to create a comprehensive database, providing accurate information on mining activities in the state.
The Commissioner emphasized the state government’s commitment, under Governor Bala Mohammed, to bringing informal miners into the formal sector, ensuring they operate within the legal framework and adhere to environmental and safety standards.
“This data-driven approach will enable the government to make informed decisions on boosting revenue generation through taxes and royalties”.
Commissioner Bello also expressed gratitude to Governor Bala Mohammed for creating an enabling environment for mining activities through infrastructural development, such as roads linking mining communities to urban centers.
He urged the enumerators to absorb all knowledge and pay close attention to the consultant’s instructions on technology-driven data collection.
The lead consultant, Dr. Elizabeth Sabaatu Danladi, explained that the training aims to equip participants with the skills to capture accurate data using technology-driven tools.
She commended the Bauchi State Government for taking bold steps in the mining sector and noted that the knowledge acquired by the youths would be useful beyond the enumeration exercise.
Goodwill messages were received from key stakeholders, including Mining Associations, Security Agencies, and Management Staff of the State Ministry of Natural Resources Development.
Out of the 114 youths trained, 92 will serve as enumerators, while 22 will supervise them across all mining sites in the state.