The Lagos State Government has made the conduct of geochemical tests of all sand sites compulsory for operators. This, among others will help determine the true value of sands as well as reduce the incidence of building collapse in the state.

As a result, sand miners and dredgers in some coastal areas in the state would have to satisfy this requirement before stockpiling sands for business purposes.

Sand mining

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. TaofiqTijani, an engineer, disclosed this in Lagos at a meeting with managers and operators of sand mining sites.

He explained that the geochemical/geophysical analysis is to help determine the mineral content of the sand samples including filling, sharp and plastering sands obtained at different strategic locations.

The move, he said, had become imperative to ascertain the ‘real content value’ of the sand samples beyond the perceived vague worth.

He said: “At a meeting we had with the governor, we brought up the issue of mineral content of sand samples and why it has become necessary to carry out a test on sand samples to determine their true worth. Realising the relevance of the issue, the governor gave approval and instructed that we put up a modality for getting this done. This, in fact, informed our meeting today with all of you who are managers and operators of these sites.

“One thing we want all of you to know is that most of the sands being stockpiled could be more than what you think they are. Some of these sands could be silica sands which is useful for the manufacture of glass. Besides some which are used for plastering may be better being used for concreting and vice- versa. So, unless we make effort toward evaluating all dredging sentiments it may be difficult to ascertain the mineral contents and their significance.”

Tijani noted that it may not be far from the truth that the lack of the right mineralogy of sand may have been responsible for the high frequencies of building collapses in the state.

Allaying fears on the exercise, he said the mineralogy test would instead; facilitate a win-win scenario as economic benefits would accrue to both the state and the owners and managers of the sites where such economic minerals are located.

He noted that the state was already reaping from the benefits of such tests, as investors were becoming interested, one of whom had approached the ministry on the possibility of exploiting silica sand deposit for the manufacture of glass in the state, adding that preliminary work on the project would soon commence.

He hinted that the geochemical analysis and geological test had to be contracted to a thoroughbred professional consultant, and a team of sedimentologists to prevent any form of interference and ensure that the exercise is meticulously carried out.

Directing operators of the sites to liaise with the consultant on the best approach that can be adopted to get the exercise done, Tijani also reiterated that the decision on the exercise is irreversible.

“We must all come to terms with the fact the test has come to stay. What I expect we should be talking about is how best to get the exercise done in a cost-effective way. So I expect that you liaise with our consultant and some of our staff when they come visiting at your various sites on how best you think the exercise could be carried out. You should discuss on whether it would be better done in clusters or groups so that the cost to be borne by you would be minimized,” he said.