Stakeholders meet on combating illegal mining in C/River

Mining

By Christian Njoku

Calabar, March 13, 2020 (NAN) A two day stakeholders forum to combat illegal mining has been held in Calabar.

The forum which held between Thursday and Friday, had the theme “The role of stakeholders in combating illegal mining and its effects in Cross River.

Speaking during the event, Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River,  said the programme was important as illegal mining should not be encouraged as it was against international best practices.

Ayade, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Mr George O’Ben-Etchi, said miners should form cooperatives and get registered.

“As cooperatives, you have access to funds set aside to support artisanal miners.

“This forum should be taken seriously by all of us, the experiences and solutions proffered should help straighten out issues in the sector and make Cross River a model for other states to follow,” he said.

In his remark, Head of Security Enforcement Unit of the Department of State Service (DSS), Mr Emmanuel Williams called on miners to ensure that national security came first in whatever they were doing.

“I beg you, whichever community you are doing your business and you sight someone who is suspicious, please, report to any of the security agencies or call the number 08144748026.

“Pass this information to the locals in the communities because a lot of people come into the country claiming to be miners but are bandits and criminals. We can identify these people when we see them in our local communities,” he said.

Earlier, the Federal Mines Officer, Cross River, Mr Mayowa Omosebi, said the forum is to share ideas and views on best practices in the mining sector and how to curtail illegal mining in the industry.

Omosebi expressed optimism that stakeholders would educate themselves on how to do things right in order to have a sector that was sustainable in the state and Nigeria.

The various papers were presented during the event such as Harmonizing Multiple Taxation, Community Development Agreement, the Role of Security Agencies in Mining Matters and Improved Synergy with all Stakeholders: An Imperative for a Successful Mines Field Surveillance.  (NAN)

CBN/ISMA

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz