Stakeholders have attributed the recent lead poisoning outbreak in Zamfara to inadequate regulatory oversight at mining sites across the country.
The stakeholders made the assertion in an interview on Sunday in Abuja.
They were unanimous that this poor regulatory oversight had led to poor adherence to proper mining practices and industry regulations.
The Zamfara Government recently confirmed an outbreak of lead poisoning in Bungudu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The state, known for its rich gold deposits, first recorded a major lead poisoning epidemic in 2010.
The outbreak was traced to artisanal gold mining activities, which led to widespread environmental contamination and the poisoning of hundreds of residents, particularly children.
In 2017, an epidemic of lead poisoning resulted in the deaths of more than 300 under-five children in Yar-Galma village of Bukkuyum LGA of the state.
The Executive Director of Renevyln Development Initiative (RDI), Philip Jakpor, expressed concern that the Zamfara incident occurred 15 years after a similar case of lead poisoning in Bukkuyum and other surrounding communities in the state.
He said, “This exposes the lack of proper oversight at mining sites across the country.
“It is disturbing that despite claims by the government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, that the sector is now adequately monitored.
“We are still receiving reports of deaths linked to solid minerals extraction.”
Jakpor called on the state government to thoroughly investigate the incident and hold accountable mining operators whose unsafe practices put lives at risk, particularly those of vulnerable children.
“We anticipate that the Zamfara government will investigate this shocking development.
“And after beam its searchlight particularly on mining firms that cut corners through practices that endanger host communities including polluting water sources,” he said.
The Chairman of the North Central Zone of the Campaign for Democracy, Human Rights Advocacy, and Civil Society of Nigeria, Dr Abdullahi Jabi called for strict monitoring of mining operations to ensure access to clean and safe water for human consumption.
Jabi also called for environmental clean-up alongside education on the implications of local gold processing.
According to him, the unregulated processing of gold ore is leading to the contamination of soil, water, and domestic items such as kitchen utensils, putting these communities especially children at risk of dangerous lead poisoning.
“Public advocacy and sensitisation are needed on the implications of this activity to ensure it is addressed.
“There is a need for massive advocacy on the handling of tools used for illegal mining to reduce the level of contamination affecting children and mothers.
“Government should conduct a soil analysis to determine the appropriate actions to take, “ he said.
Jabi also called for an increased deployment of medical personnel to the affected communities, along with the necessary medications for immediate administration to reduce casualties.
A Consultant, Public Health Physician, Juliette Katung, described the outbreak as inorganic lead poisoning, which could be contracted through the ingestion of contaminated water, food, or the use of contaminated objects.
Katung pointed out that in the mining communities, crude methods were often used to crush and grind gold-bearing rocks, releasing lead-laden dust that contaminates the air, soil, and water.
She explained that some of these processing methods involved using objects like mortars and pestles to grind rocks in open spaces or even inside homes.
“This process releases dust contaminated with lead, which is inhaled or ingested by nearby people. The same objects are later used to grind food items.
“Also, water sourced from wells polluted by lead can result in the accumulation of the chemicals in the body over time,” she explained.
According to her, children in such communities are most affected by these outbreaks, which can lead to various symptoms, including abdominal colic, stunted growth, neurological damage, developmental delays, and even death.
NAN
