TEENAGE MINING: BAGO SOLICITS CLERICS INTERVENTIONS
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called on religious leaders across the state to utilize their platforms to preach against the involvement of children in artisanal mining, reiterating that basic and secondary education remain completely free in the state.
Governor Bago made the call on Tuesday in Minna while receiving the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter.
The delegation, led by its Chairman, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, paid a condolence visit to the governor following the tragic death of 37 teenage artisanal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Expressing deep sadness over the incident, the Governor urged both Christian and Islamic clerics to actively sensitize parents during sermons to prioritize their children’s education over hazardous labor.
“We are bedevilled with the crisis that happened in the custody of the NSCDC. Please, call on parents not to expose their children to this dangerous kind of business,” Bago pleaded.
“Use the churches and mosques to discourage parents from letting their children indulge in artisanal mining, and encourage them to enroll them in schools so they can become better citizens tomorrow.”
He emphasized that financial constraints should not be an excuse for child labor, noting that the state government has consistently absorbed the cost of basic schooling.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure school enrollment is encouraged because both basic and secondary education in Niger State are free for all our children.
It has always been free, and we will continue to re-emphasize that. There is no reason why any parent should deny their child an education,” he added.
Addressing the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, Governor Bago condemned the operational conduct of the security agency and vowed that the state would demand full accountability.“
This tragedy was avoidable, but because of a lack of professionalism on the part of the officers, we have found ourselves with 37 deaths on our hands.
This we cannot sweep under the carpet. By the grace of God and the oath of office we took, we are going to ensure we pursue this matter to its logical conclusion,” the Governor declared.
Earlier in his remarks, the CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, described the deaths of the 37 young miners as a wanton and devastating tragedy.Speaking through his Deputy, Rev. Joshua Marcus, the Chairman—who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese commended Governor Bago for putting human lives ahead of political activities by postponing his campaign flag-off in honor of the victims.
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