About US$4m is required for an immediate clean-up of the environment to save the lives of thousands of children in the northern Nigerian state of Zamfara where villages have remained contaminated with Lead, the Human Rights Watch has said.

The group in a news conference in Lagos, Tuesday, said that the amount would also cover the implementation of safer mining processes as well as testing and treatment of all children at risk for Lead poisoning.

While launching a new video, 'A Heavy Price: Lead Poisoning and Gold Mining in Zamfara State'; the group stated that the federal government has remained mum on the epidemic which has claimed the lives of more than 400 children, according to official estimates.


Artisanal gold mining - small scale mining done with rudimentary tools - is common in gold-rich Zamfara State.

In 2010, unsafe mining practices in dozens of villages in the state led to the "worst Lead poisoning epidemic in modern history."

Exposed to Danger

Recent findings by Human Rights Watch in Zamfara State showed that children are exposed to Lead dust when they process the ore in the mines, when their miner relatives return home covered with Lead dust, and when the Lead-filled ore is manually or mechanically crushed at home.

"Between 1,500 and 2,000 children under the age of 5 have been exposed to extremely high level of Lead for at least two years," said Babatunde Olugboji, deputy program director at Human Rights Watch.

Healthcare workers in Zamfara told the Human Rights Watch that there have also been high rates of infertility and miscarriage among affected adults.

"There seem to be an issue of mother to child transmission (of the chemical) going on now. This is a very delicate situation," Mr. Olugboji added.

Medical workers in Nigeria reported that the Lead concentration in the Zamfara State ore is so toxic that in 2010, villages like Abare, Dareta, Duza, Sunke, Tungar Daji, Tungar Guru, and Yargalma recorded unprecedented high levels.

"The mortality rate was estimated as high as 40 percent among children who showed symptoms of Lead poisoning," said Mr. Olugboji.

Jane Cohen, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, said that immediate remediation efforts and the co-operation of the federal government are vital to providing a lasting solution.

"Remediation needs to start immediately, before the next rainy season," said Ms. Cohen.

"If remediation begins but is not completed, the rainy season would actually make a dire situation much worse," she added.

The Zamfara State government, in partnership with international organizations like Medecins Sans Frontiers and the United States Center for Disease Control, has treated over 1,500 children with acute Lead poisoning.

However, thousands more children urgently need the life-saving chelation therapy treatment that removes the Lead from the body via urination.

'Uncommitted federal government'

Ms. Cohen said that efforts to get the commitment of the federal government have not been successful.

"There have been several visits from high profile federal government officials but no real commitment," she said.

"We have met with the Minister of Mines and Steel several days ago.

"His response to us was that they know about the situation, but currently the ministry does not have resources to commit to this," said Ms. Cohen.

In the short video, which tries to show the impact of Lead poisoning on the lives of the locals in Zamfara State; Amina, 20, narrates how she lost three of her six children to Lead poisoning.

"By failing to address this epidemic, the Nigerian government is needlessly sacrificing its children," said Mr. Olugboji.

http://premiumtimesng.com/feed/news/3700-lead-poisoning-zamfara-clean-up-to-cost-_4m.txt

North

where would the finance come from??

WebSurfer:

where would the finance come from??

is there no environmental fund? why wasn't the government monitoring mining activities? the government were careless,

North!!!  How come its always from one epidemic situation to another? They are still fighting polio, boko haram, almajiri, now its lead poisoning. Nonsence region. Infact they should get out!!!

Poor federal Govt. They've all gone enjoying oil in the delta, 4geting that there are several other resources elsewhere to rake in revenue. Now, instead of the damn gold becoming a blessing, it has becoming a curse already killing hundreds. Having not enjoyed that resource, we'll have to cough out a whoping 4m USD that woulda been channeled to a more worthy purpose.

WebSurfer:

where would the finance come from??

they would rather have peeps like alh. yerima spend twice that amount on his underage wife; than to clean-up this mess.

Arosa:

they would rather have peeps like alh. yerima spend twice that amount on his underage wife; than to clean-up this mess.

gbam! northerners are a bunch of liabilities!

Have we become so inhuman and stooopid dt we can't see a problem and proffered objective comments and/or solutions as many r doing on ds thread? Yes, north!, and so what?! R they less humans or deserving of ds unfortunate pollution disaster?

By d way, how much is $4m against 400 souls lost already and counting. It's much less than amount budgeted for president's feeding allowance for d year, mind u. This should b a national emergency. It's also an opportunity for d govt to reshape d mining industry in dt class. But that can only b done by a right thinking govt wc we maynt have - no thanks to d kind of dolts mentality as displayed already on ds thread.

Provided the $4million comes from their (Northern) leaders collective financial contributions. The infected people were [size=18pt]mining lead locally[/size]. They brought it upon themselves. This shouldn't be a Federal issue at all!

wow.

ya'll heartless.

phreakabit:

Provided the $4million comes from their (Northern) leaders collective financial contributions. The infected people were [size=18pt]mining lead locally[/size]. They brought it upon themselves. This shouldn't be a Federal issue at all!

They were mining gold not lead and FYI hundreds of people in Nigeria have lead poison from the fumes produced by the low grade petrol we use. Their own is on a larger scale cause of the direct contact and govt should use this as an opportunity to revive the mining sector and enforce safety regulations.

Northern leaders are busy importing 12 containers of ammunition to make GEJ government ungoverned but look at their enviroment 4million dollars, that's a waste of  oil money? their elites can sort it out for them, 

ade_77:


They were mining gold not lead and FYI hundreds of people in Nigeria have lead poison from the fumes produced by the low grade petrol we use. Their own is on a larger scale cause of the direct contact and govt should use this as an opportunity to revive the mining sector and enforce safety regulations.

Ok lets assume they were mining gold, not lead. What differentiates/ vindicates their actions when compared to that of the illegal refineries recently destroyed in the Niger Delta (Not to tribalise the issue, but that's the only example I could come up with)? The Answer is NOTHING. . . . . They are both [size=18pt]ILLEGAL![/size] Like a lot of us say here do the crime. . . .Do the time. Its that simple.

^^^^

these same noisemakers bitch about the pollution in the nd wreaked by bunkerers

oyb:

^^^^

these same noisemakers NaughtyWoman about the pollution in the nd wreaked by bunkerers

And who is this imbecilic nobody, incapable of making a coherent sentence ?

WebSurfer:

where would the finance come from??

Simple.

After all Senate President said he will fight with his blood for the unity of Nigeria, ask Mr. Senate President Mark to forgo his 600+million salary, that's an equivalent of $3.75million, at least 93% of the money has been covered.

It's a pity, just look at how the loss of life means nothing to most people these days. Its either we have alarming rate of murderers, blood-suckers, assasins, lunatics etc making all this cräzy remarks. Whichever it is, I'm pretty sure these twitty-birds would be humming a different song if, one of theirs' was affected. Schmucks!

phreakabit:

Ok lets assume they were mining gold, not lead. What differentiates/ vindicates their actions when compared to that of the illegal refineries recently destroyed in the Niger Delta (Not to tribalise the issue, but that's the only example I could come up with)? The Answer is NOTHING. . . . . They are both [size=18pt]ILLEGAL![/size] Like a lot of us say here do the crime. . . .Do the time. Its that simple.

Thank you.
I thought that was the essence of the so-called land reform decree, designed to prohibit southerners from mining minerals from their lands. If you can't mine gold, coal,or oil from your land in Delta state, why should you do that in Zamfara state

The news is sad. Responses on this thread is sadder. I feel sorry for d villagers, but I grieve already for thinking of some people here. I just don't knw how to say it more

homerac7:

The news is sad. Responses on this thread is sadder. I feel sorry for d villagers, but I grieve already for thinking of some people here. I just don't knw how to say it more

Honestly this is a sad development in every sense. . . . But the point I am stressing is: WHY SHOULD THE FG BEAR THE BURDEN?

Just like in the south, the local, state, and federal goverments should ban all illegal personl minnings

Since nobody is going to take responsibility for the clean-up of this mess, I suggest that the village should be evacuated immediately. where are the national guards?

naijaking1:

Just like in the south, the local, state, and federal goverments should ban all illegal personl minnings

This is a silly statement. Illegal personal mining should be banned? It is already banned, buddy and that is why it is called illegal mining.

By the way, the illegal mining is not the major cause of the deaths we are seeing. Refining gold ore which resulted into contaminated waters are the main culprits. Zamfara State had employed a Chinese company to mine gold in the area and that company must be held accountable. Their attempt at shifting the blame to so-called illegal mining is preposterous and fellow Nigerians who are enabling these company by supporting the false claim that illegal mining is causing the led poisoning should be ashamed of yourselves.

The deaths were discovered during the country's annual immunisation programme, when officials realised there were virtually no children in several remote villages in the northern state. There were no illegal mining taking place in those villages, the only explanation for the lead poison was contaminated water caused by the so-called legal mining!

We must hold the Chinese companies responsible. We know what happened to the environment in the oil producing states when we did not hold Shell and others responsible. Locals became sick after lead removed during the process of refining gold ore contaminated local water systems. The villagers do not know how to refine gold ore or capable of any kind of refining gold.