The senate on Thursday called on the federal government to urgently treat all cases of Lead poisoning, remediate the environment and promote safer mining programmes for artisanal miners.

This preceded a motion on the urgent Remediation of Lead Poisoning in Shikira Community of Niger State, sponsored by Senator David Umaru in unison by all the senators of the 8th Assembly.

 In May 2015 there was a lead outbreak epidemic that recorded 65 cases in a small rural mining community in Rafi Local Government of Niger State leaving more than 28 children dead of suspected lead poisoning.

“Given the potential of lead poisoning to irrevocably inflict long term neurocognitive deficits on generations, there is need to urgently address this issue of National importance.

The motion read They Urged the Federal Government to urgently approve & release needed intervention funds from the Ecological Funds Office for urgent remediation of areas affected and the Committee on Solid Minerals to review the 2007 Mining Act to reflect present realities in the sector as it affects local communities.

Senate President Bukola Saraki in his remarks thanked his colleagues for the motion, adding that lead poisoning as a result of illegal mining has taken a lot of lives and poses a huge threat to the environment.

He urged the committee on solid minerals and other relevant committees to use effective oversight to make certain that when these funds are ready they efficiently disbursed to serve the need.