The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, NMGS, has vowed to work in synergy with relevant regulatory agencies with a view to curbing illegal mining and indiscriminate drilling of boreholes in Yobe State.
The newly elected State Chairman of NMGS, Mohammed Usman Audu, disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Post in Damaturu.
According to the chairman, illegal mining and indiscriminate drilling of boreholes are inimical to the environment as well as the development of the state.
He said: “As you all know geology is the bedrock of this nation’s economy. Without geology, all petroleum and mining industries among others cannot succeed in the country”, he said.
“As we all, Yobe State is endowed with large deposits of solid minerals across the 17 local government areas of the state.
“Therefore, we will try to see how we can prevent illegal miners who come into the state just to exploit our mineral deposit”, Mr Audu added.
The chairman explained that the state’s main source of water was from the ground, noting that this was the reason for indiscriminate drilling of boreholes without regard to the observance of standard procedures.
“In Yobe State, our main source of water is from the ground, because of this, there is indiscriminate drilling of boreholes.
“We will work hand in glove with the State’s regulatory agencies and see how we can bring sanity in the practice through the enforcement of rules and regulations guiding drilling of boreholes”, he assured.
