The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, has stated that 300 Compounds representing 75 per cent of the Lead Contaminated Compounds in Bagega village of Zamfara State have been remediated and rendered Safer for habitation.
A statement issued by the ministry said that the minister received members of the Good Governancel tour led by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku and Zamfara State Governor Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar in the village while inspecting the progress of the ongoing remediation works.
Mailafia said that the works involved the sequential and mechanical removal of exposed surfaces which were scientifically and safely replaced with new sand or cement materials.
She informed the Good Governance team that the exercise which involved several ministries, departments, agencies and international technical partners, was been implemented at the cost of N800m fully borne by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
She revealed that the works were consistent with international best practices and of the highest possible standards.
Mrs. Mailafia stated that after the completion of all remediation activities in June 2013, the Federal Ministry of Health would move into the site to render further medical intervention for victims of the lead poisoning.
The Ministry of Mines and Steel would also step in to educate the people and ensure that they henceforth adopted safer mining practices.
She said that the ministry and the state Ministry of Environment would continue to carry out education and advocacy campaigns amongst the populace to prevent further or future recurrence of lead poisoning epidemic in the area.
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