By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG), through the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has said it will not tolerate any act of illegal mining by individuals or firms operating in Taraba State.
Engr. Kutman Hosea Ali, the Federal Mines Officer in charge of Taraba, disclosed this on Tuesday, stating that the decision is aimed at ensuring that miners are properly licensed to operate in the state and to unlock its vast mineral potential.
He added that the initiative would boost the economy and transform both Taraba and Nigeria at large.
The Mines Officer spoke during the Mining Sector Roadmap Development Stakeholders’ Engagement Validation Workshop held in Jalingo. He noted that the Federal Government would collaborate with the Taraba State Government to ensure that mining firms adhere strictly to Community Development Agreements (CDA) and fulfill their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) to attract rural development.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the stakeholders’ engagement workshop, organised by April Benjamin/Dawn Communication Ltd and BioS04 Finland in collaboration with the Taraba State Bureau for Solid Minerals, was aimed at curbing the activities of illegal miners and unlocking the mineral potential of Taraba State.
“The Federal Government will no longer tolerate any act of illegal mining in Taraba. We will ensure that companies coming to mine in the state are legally licensed. They must possess valid and fully activated mining licences.
“This decision is to ensure that miners are properly licensed, to unlock Taraba’s mineral potential, boost the economy, and transform the state and Nigeria at large.
“We will also ensure that companies adhere to Community Development Agreements and provide basic social amenities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility,” Engr. Hosea Ali insisted.
In his address, Chief Barr. G.T. Kataps, the Secretary to Government of the State (SGS) of Taraba, disclosed that the state government has set up a committee comprising members of the State House of Assembly to coordinate the activities of licensed miners investing in the state.
Chief Kataps stated that Governor Agbu Kefas’ administration is committed to ensuring that all mining activities are carried out legally to boost revenue and unlock the state’s mineral potential.
“Unlike in the past, when it was difficult to identify licensed miners, the Kefas administration, in its effort to ensure that the state’s natural resources are meaningfully harnessed, has reorganised the sector to boost revenue generation and transform the state.
“A committee of members of the State House of Assembly has been set up to coordinate mining activities and oversee legal miners coming into Taraba. We call on investors to fast-track their operations, as funds have already been invested for the commencement of mining activities in the state,” Kataps noted.
Meanwhile, Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah, former Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, decried the activities of some miners whom he alleged were facilitating the supply of arms to bandits and terrorists across Nigeria.
Hon. Diah insisted that all miners must make their financial records accessible to the state government to enable authorities track financial transactions and ensure transparency. He also stressed that indigenous miners should be employed by mining companies operating in the state.
