By Jibril Almustapha
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Zamfara State Command, cautions mineral resources miners, suppliers and truck drivers carrying any of the mineral resources to obtain licenses of operation across the state.
The State Commandant of the Corps, Muhammad Bello Mu’azu, made this call in a meeting with leaders of road transportation organizations operating in the state at the Command’s Headquarters in Gusau, the state capital.
Speaking during the meeting, the Commandant, declared that, “the prerequisite documents to be presented to the NSCDC officers at any designated check points include: License to Possess and Purchase Minerals; Evidence of Payment of Royalty, Mineral Title, Agent Movement Permit, and Mineral Buying Centre Certificate.”
According to him, the documents will enable the NSCDC personnel to determine if the solid minerals are coming from a legal source.
“If the aforementioned documents are not presented, the driver and whosoever that might be involved should be prosecuted and the truck and its content confiscated by the Federal Government.” the NSCDC boss added.
He also urged miners in the state and across the country to comply with ‘Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals’ to obtain all required licenses for the decency of their services.
The Commandant, also reaffirmed the resilience of the Corps in the protection of law and order in Zamfara state and across the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mu’azu disclosed that, the NSCDC Zamfara state Command was making efforts to convene an exclusive symposium to discuss motives related to mines and mineral resources supply from neighboring northern states whose trucks pass through the domains of Zamfara state.
“We are preparing to hold an interactive session with road transportation workers, and miners from Kogi, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, & Kano states respectively.”
While briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Chairman National Union of Road Transport Workers, Trailer Branch Gusau, Basiru Haruna and his counterpart of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, Trailer Branch, Lawali Danda, appreciated the efforts of the NSCDC and reassured their utmost readiness to support the legal measures proclaimed by the Commandant and pledged that their members will continue to remain law abiding and responsible while offering their descent services under their watch.
MEDIA SMARTS NIGERIA reports that the meeting was conducted following the NSCDC retention of 3 trucks carrying mineral resources who failed to present documents indicating the legality of the resources.
