The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, has taken a decisive step to put an end to the rampant issue of illegal mining across the country.
This announcement was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mrs. Mary Ogbe, during a courtesy visit of the Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, to the Ministry’s Headquarters Office in Abuja on Monday.
Dr. Ogbe emphasized the urgent need for collaboration between the Ministry and Taraba state to effectively address the problem of illegal mining, which has become a persistent economic crime, resulting in a loss of government revenue, security problems, and frequent community clashes in mineral resource-endowed states.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Dr. Ogbe highlighted that combating illegal mining requires a joint effort between the Ministry and the state government.
She stressed the importance of robust dialogue to enhance and sustain the Ministry’s efforts in curbing the activities of illegal miners while respecting the rule of law.
Commending the proactive measures already taken by Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas to prevent law and order breakdown due to illegal mining, the Permanent Secretary urged the Governor to extend necessary assistance to legal miners in the state.
This support would foster investor confidence and attract genuine investments into the state, further contributing to its socio-economic transformation.
In response, Governor Dr. Kefas strongly condemned the activities of illegal miners in his state, as their actions often lead to communal clashes and severe environmental degradation in their pursuit of illegal exploration of mineral resources.
To effectively curb and eliminate illegal mining activities, Governor Kefas urged the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to establish an open corridor of communication and effective collaboration with the Taraba state government.
This partnership would streamline the process of licensing and authenticating licenses issued by the Ministry to investors, as well as other necessary documentation for mineral resource exploration.
By implementing this measure, Governor Kefas believes that an enabling environment would be created to attract genuine investors into the state, contributing to the much-desired socio-economic transformation of not only the state but also the entire country.
This joint effort between the Federal Government and state authorities marks a crucial step towards putting an end to illegal mining and promoting responsible and sustainable mining practices across the nation.
