*The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) condemned the illegal storage of explosives in residential areas.*
Its president, Dele Ayanleke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the illegal miners did not handle the explosives according to regulations guiding their acquisition, handling, storage and usage.
According to the president, legitimate mining companies have storage facilities at their mine sites.
He said the storage of the explosives in a residential area only confirmed that the owners planned to use them at unauthorised mining sites where they did not have mining titles.
“You must obtain a permit and the military must know the quantity of explosives you are buying.
Then you must store the materials in the appropriate place in their magazine and there is a register for that.
“Government must know how you plan to use the quantity of explosives you are planning to buy.
“You must obtain permits from the relevant ministry. It is the permits that the miners will take to a government-licenced explosives dealer to be able to buy the specified quantity.
“The movement of explosive materials from the point of purchase must also be accompanied by an explosive officer from the bomb disposal unit of the Nigerian Police,” Ayanleke explained.
He condemned the Ibadan incident and said the association would support any form of government action against the alleged owners of the explosives stored in unauthorised places.
