Politics
THE Senate has frowned at the attitude of some Nigerians who collude with unscrupulous foreign elements to rip the country off its mineral wealth, without corresponding accruals to the Federation Account.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator Ekong Sampson, who made the accusation during a meeting of the panel in Abuja, also raised the alarm over security challenges posed by illegal mining in the country.
He vowed that his Committee would intensify investigations into activities in the solid minerals sector, in the interest of the country.
He insisted that reviewing and streamlining of mining activities will reposition the nation’s solid minerals sector.
He condemned the behaviour of some industry players in the mining sector, who disregard Committee’s invitations, with some even threatening legal actions once they were invited for interactions.
He warned that the Senate will not be fettered in its investigations, despite petitions by some of these operators.
It would be recalled that the Senate, by its resolutions at plenary, late last year, mandated the Solid Minerals Committee “to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the dwindling revenue derivable from solid minerals development in the country, review activities of policy administrators, policy executors and industry players at the policy formulation, policy execution, and downstream, midstream and upstream operations of the solid minerals sector.”
The committee was also directed by the Senate to ascertain the extent and impact of illegal mining activities and the extent of complicity of both local and expatriate industry players as well as review the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) privatisation or commercialisation programmes of all mining and mineral resources related programmes from 1999 till date.
Senator Sampson re-emphasised that the solid minerals sector had the potential of generating huge revenue for the country, but bemoaned, however, that the industry was still being bedevilled by unwholesome activities of some of its operators.
He decried the recent explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, said to have been caused by irresponsible and illegal mining behaviour.
The Committee noted that the haphazard mining operations have contributed to the rising spate of insecurity in the country, with threats to lives and property.
He pledged his Committee’s resolve to stamp out illegal mining, and holistically look into the extant Mining Act, with a view to reposition it through proper legislation, in line with best practices.
The Akwa Ibom South Senator hinted on plans to hold regular roundtable discussions with relevant agencies, experts, industry players, artisanal miners and other stakeholders to further compare notes on how best to reposition operations in the sector.
Other members of the Committee include Senators Mustapha Khabeeb (Vice Chairman), Aminu Tambuwal, Onawo Ogoshi and Diket Plang.
THE NATION
17th February, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Aminu Tambuwal Diket Plang Mustapha Khabeeb
