HON SAMUEL NEJI ABANG, TODAY THE 18TH OF APRIL, 2024, HAS MOVED A MOTION CALLING ON THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE , TO ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE NIGERIAN MINERALS AND MINING ACT, 2007; WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF MINING COMPANIES OPERATING IN THE STATE
Highlighting The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, Hon Samuel Neji Abang, pointed subsection (1) of section 1 which gives Federal Government ownership and control of minerals and determined how it can be exploited. However as enshrined in the LAND USE ACT, CAP L5 Laws of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004. In other words, for the Federal Government to take ownership of minerals, it must first fulfill the provisions of the the Land Use Act, wherein powers of land ownership is vested in the State Government.
Therefore before the Federal Government award license to anyone to explore and exploit minerals, it must first go through the gamut provisions of acquiring the land where the minerals are deposited, through the State Government.
It’s by virtue of the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 19 of the minerals and mining Act, that, The Minority Leader, has moved a motion, calling on the state government to establish the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee.
Hon Davis Eta, Member Representing Abi State Constituency, said not only that the Miner’s are mining illegally, he lament the inappropriate mining practices in Biase LGA.
Hon Eta, added that the Miner’s do not refill the holes after mining and have also failed to have concrete agreement with the host communities,
Hon Charles Omang, Member representing Bekwara State Constituency who’s also a Lawyer by profession, enumerated the importance of the establishment of minerals Resources and Environmental Management Committee, given that the committee will constitute both Federal,State and Local Government as members of the committee.
Hon Kingsley Ntui, Member representing Etung State Constituency, in lending his voice to the all important motion, frowned at the illegal way of mining in the state without economic values. He suggested, that a committee be constituted in house for proper findings before necessary actions.
Hon Eyo Bassey, member representing Bakassi State Constituency, reminded the house of the illegal and unlawful way Bakassi peninsula was ceded to Cameroon and 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State, adding that Cross River as a State have refused to fight back all these years.
RELATED POST: Hon. Neji Calls For Employment and Funding in CRBC
Hon Okon Owuna, member representing Akamkpa 1 State Constituency, in supporting the motion, quoted section 19 of the mining act in Nigeria which gives State government the right to constitute a committee to regulate mining activities in a given State, and called for revocation of all mining consent.
Also in support of the motion, The Leader of House, Hon Francis Asuquo, express disatisfaction on the way traditional rulers signs consent without holistically checking the aftermath consequences.
Hon Francis suggested for sensitization of the traditional institution as regards signing of mining consent.
After meaningful contributions from members on the motion, The Minority Leaders prayers were as follows;
1).All mining site and activities in the state should be put on hold until the State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee has been properly constituted and activated function.
2) That, The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Lands, The Secretary for Land Use Allocated Committee, Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Surveyor General, to appear before the house for explanation on how mining activities are carried out in the state.
By Kingsley Tanko
Press Secretary to
The Minority Leader
CRS-HOA
One thought on “Hon. Neji Calls For Enforcement of Mining Act in Cross River”