The Nasarawa State Government has banned children below the age of 18 from participating in mining activities across the state.
The directive prohibits minors from being present at mining sites, whether as labourers, errand runners or food vendors.
The Commissioner for Environment, Solid Minerals and Mining, Margaret Elayo, announced the decision on Friday during a press conference in Lafia, the state capital.
Elayo said the measure was part of the government’s renewed efforts to sanitise the mining sector, protect children from exploitation and prevent minors from being exposed to the dangers associated with mining activities.
She expressed concern that children were being used as labourers at some artisanal mining sites across the state.
According to her, reports received by the ministry indicated that mining activities in parts of Wamba, Nasarawa-Eggon and Kokona Local Government Areas were exposing children to health hazards and preventing some of them from accessing education.
“Henceforth, no child below the age of 18 is allowed to be found at any mining site in Nasarawa State, either as a labourer, errand runner or food vendor,” the commissioner said.
She warned that any company, site operator or parent found violating the directive would be arrested and prosecuted under the relevant Child Rights Law and mining regulations.
Elayo urged mining companies to employ only adults aged 18 and above, properly train their workers and provide them with the necessary safety equipment.
She also advised parents against taking their children to mining sites, warning that the environment could expose them to serious health and safety risks.
To enforce the directive, the state government has established a special monitoring and enforcement team to visit mining communities and identify illegal mining operations and cases of child labour.
The government also plans to collaborate with security agencies, traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure compliance.
Elayo disclosed that the state was working with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and other relevant agencies to organise artisanal miners into cooperatives as part of efforts to improve regulation and safety.
She stressed that the ban was not intended to stop legitimate mining activities in Nasarawa State, but to ensure that mining is carried out responsibly, safely and in accordance with the law.
The development comes amid renewed concerns over the dangers associated with illegal mining following the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in neighbouring Niger State.
