Nigeria Content Online

The Senate has
blamed the federal government and the government of Zamfara State for
the tragic death of 163 people, mostly children below the age of five,
during the recent outbreak of lead poisoning in the state. A minute
silence was observed by the senators on the back of a motion by Sahabi
Ya’u (PDP Zamfara state) which noted the federal government’s carefree
attitude to issues concerning the lives of Nigerians.

The senators
criticized both the federal and local governments, for allowing the
disaster happen. They argued that if the government had strictly
implemented the mining laws, built a clinic within the community, or
even responded to the disaster rapidly, the deaths would have few. “It
is a pity we have to mourn this avoidable death of our citizens due to
our carelessness.” Patrick Osakwe (PDP Delta state) said.

“If we had taken the mining act seriously, we wouldn’t have been here discussing this today.” Ayogu Eze (PDP Enugu state) said.

John Shagaya (PDP
Plateau state) lamented the lack of urgency in the manner that the
federal government has handled the disaster, noting that till date
government has not inaugurated a committee set up on the issue.

Blame game

Ahmed Yerima (ANPP
Zamfara state) who was governor of the affected state for eight years
also decried the inability of the federal government to send relief
materials to the surviving victims.

“In other
countries, the government would have declared a state of emergency in
the area.” Mr. Yerima said. “But till now federal government has not
done anything by sending relief to the affected people.” The disaster
was caused by the activities of illegal miners of iron ore in Anka and
Bukkuyum local government areas of the state in April this year.

The villagers
turned miners were said to take crushed rocks home from the mine and
this resulted in the soil being contaminated from lead and the people
were thereafter poisoned through hand to mouth contamination. Many were
contaminated by contacts with contaminated tools and water.

The poisoning had
both social and economic effects on surviving victims and will likely
affect their ability to procreate while damaging livestock and crops.

While debating the
motion, Erhiawarie Eferakeye (PDP Delta state), a professor of
pharmacology, advised that the government immediately begins proper
medical screening of the survivors as the poisoning could have long
term after effect.

The Senate,
however, resolved to investigate the crisis and urged the federal,
state and local government to embark on sensitisation campaign on the
danger of illegal mining.