Special Adviser to Zamfara State on Public Enlightenment Media and Communication Malam Zailani Bappa has described the recent comment by one Joseph Onu Silas against the Governor of Zamfara as clear misconception of fact and law.
The Lawyer, Mr Joseph Onu Silas, accused the Central Bank of Nigeria of violating its constitutional boundaries to “trade” in Gold with the Zamfara State Government. He further accused the state Government as well of claiming to “own” the gold deposit in the state, Bappa added.
Bappa insisted that, Zamfara State Government has not entered in to any trade agreement with the Central Bank of Nigeria as claimed .
“The fact is that the CBN, just like in Agriculture, is willing to invest in mining as part of anchor-borrowers scheme where the apex Bank will invest the said amount for the state Government to supply it with the gold as a proceed of the investment. This is aimed at boosting the mining sector in the country which is within the provisions of the scheme” Bappa added.
Bappa further explained that Zamfara State Government is not mining the gold itself as claimed hence it is buying the gold from Federal Government registered mining companies in the state.
“All Nigerians are aware that the Federal Government is in the process of re-registering qualified companies allowed to mine mineral resources in the state on its behalf, just as it is obtained in the oil sector which Mr Silas mentioned”.
He described as unfortunate how educated people will engage the media wrongly in discussing national issues using their personal sentiment.
Zamfara State Government, therefore, wishes to assure all Nigerians that it will abide by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and use same as a guide to the management of mineral deposits in the state.
