FG partners State
FG partners State Gov to end Illegal
Mining
In a concerted effort to increase revenue generation
in the Minerals and Metals Sector, the Federal Government is
partnering with State Governments to curb illegal mining of solid
minerals across the country.
Speaking at the weekend during a courtesy visit to
Enugu State Governor, His Excellency, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the
Minster of State, Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu
Sampson Ogah, said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved 13%
derivation on solid minerals mining as in the oil sector, as such
there should be collaboration between the Federal and State
Governments in order to close up all leakages to be able to derive
better revenue generation in the sector.
Ogah noted that if the abundance of minerals in the
country, including coal which is found in great quantity in
Enugu, are properly harnessed, it would help achieve the
Federal Government’s effort towards diversifying the economy.
He said that mechanism is being put in place towards
tracking and monitoring minerals exploited, as well as revenues
collected are accounted for and paid into the right government
account.
He therefore called for cooperation of the
governors, saying that doing this would fast track the growth of
the economy, create employment and increase the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP).
According to him, government is working on a policy
that would curb activities of illegal mining in the country. The
policy would ensure the monitoring and tagging of minerals mined
and their movement. This would assist in curbing illegal mining,
and to boost the drive of creating employment and lifting Nigerians
out of poverty, he said.
In his remarks, the Governor assured of the state’s
willingness to partner with the Ministry in the effort to generate
revenue through minerals mining.
He disclosed that Enugu with its abundance of
coal, has not witnessed any meaningful mining activity for years;
adding that the people would be happy to see the state return to
the days when Enugu was truly the Coal City.