Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia
The
Federal Government on Monday said 300 compounds, representing 75 per
cent of the lead contaminated homes in Bagega, Zamfara State, had been
remediated and rendered safer for habitation.
This leaves 25 per cent, representing 100 compounds, still contaminated with lead poison in the community.
Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza
Mailafia, said the remediation works involved the sequential and
mechanical removal of exposed surfaces, which were scientifically and
safely replaced with new sand or cement materials.
A statement from the Ministry of
Environment, on Monday quoted the minister of saying this in Bagega
while inspecting the ongoing remediation works in the community.
Mailafia said the exercise involved
several ministries, departments, agencies and international technical
partners, adding that the N800m cost of the project was borne by the
Federal Government.
The technical expertise and supervision,
she added, was provided by Messrs. Terra Graphics Consultants, who
worked with Medicines Sans Frontiers.
The minister 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” the statement added.
PUNCH
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