The establishment of the Kano Gold Souk will draw International attention to the Nigerian gold potential and act as a platform to showcase the jewellery market.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, said in Kano in her keynote remarks at the one-Day Stakeholders’ Engagement Workshop On the Establishment Of Downstream International Gold Souk held in Kano on Wednesday.
She stated that the purpose of the workshop was to provide participants with adequate knowledge of the concept and vision of the project in order to ensure that it is optimally utilised according to intended purposes and for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Dr Akinlade noted that the establishment of the Gold Souk is a win-win for both the stakeholders and the government, as it would help bring to the limelight indigenously produced gold and shore up revenue for the government.
She urged all participants to pay keen attention to the resource persons during the workshop, as it will help to prepare stakeholders adequately to play expected roles in the success of the project to the glory of God and for posterity.
In his welcome address, Director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM), Yunusa Mohammed, stated that Artisanal and Small Scale Mining has been known to provide jobs and livelihoods to a great number of people around the world.
He noted that globally, it is estimated that over 40 million people are engaged in the sector producing more than a fifth of the world’s gold, tin and tantalum supplies as well as accounting for more than 80% of the global supply of gemstones, especially sapphire, emerald, tourmaline, aquamarine, topaz, etc.
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He further pointed out that a significant portion of Nigeria’s mineral production comes from artisanal and small-scale miners. He added that the subsector is believed to provide livelihood opportunities to about 2,000,000 Nigerians. However, he disclosed that these miners mostly use inappropriate or crude methods and very rudimentary tools to exploit mineral deposits.
The Director revealed that despite the Ministry’s efforts in ensuring that regulations and mechanisms are put in place to develop the ASM subsector in the country, the sector is still largely informal, with most operators engaging in illegal mining, smuggling of minerals, and generally causing social conflicts in host communities.
He stated that poorly regulated ASM affects national economic development and security, creates pollution and general degradation of the environment as well as smuggling, social disruption, child labour, the influx of illegal migrants and the outbreak of diseases due to poor sanitary environment under which mining camps thrive.
Additionally, he informed that through the instrumentality of the Economic Sustainability Plan of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the Ministry initiated and implemented the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Cluster Development Project. This, he stated led to the establishment of an International Gold Souk in Batakaye Village, Kumbotso LGA, Kano State.
He expressed optimism that the workshop organised for Stakeholders drawn from both the public and private sectors will address the present issues militating against the development of ASM as well as enable a smooth transition from informal and illegal mining to more formalised, organised and sustainable mining ventures.
In his remarks, Chairman, Miners Association of Nigeria, Kano State, Mallam Yahaya Kulu, while applauding the Federal Government through the Ministry of Mines for siting the Gold Souk in Kano, said the opening of the Gold Souk in Kano was an indication that miners in Kano are law-abiding and not illegal. He promised the Association’s unalloyed commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the Gold Souk.
