IN THE NEWS: Gov Emmanuel Advocates Total Control of Mineral Development by States
—GOVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, yesterday pleaded with the Federal Government to allow states to control the development of mineral resources, to step up mineral exploration in the country. Emmanuel spoke during a mining stakeholders forum in the state with the theme, Repositioning mining activities in Akwa Ibom State, organized by the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee, MIMRECO, Akwa Ibom State chapter in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources. Gov Emmanuel Udom The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, emphasized the importance of mineral development to the diversification of the economy. He said: “Akwa Ibom State is blessed with numerous mineral resources and my administration is dedicated to exploring this sector as part of our strategic plans to diversify our economy from almost total dependence on oil. Let me use this opportunity to join others who have asked that development of minerals be removed from the exclusive list. State governments should have total control. Our state should be included in the mineral map. It is blessed with economically viable solid minerals such as limestone, clay and more and we are investing huge resource in this sector of the economy” In his remarks, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was represented by the Director of Mines, Mr. Salim Salah, commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for its support towards MIMRECO and for complementing Federal Government’s effort towards checkmating the activities of illegal miners. “The essence of Mineral Resources and Environmental Committee is to create synergy between the three tiers of government. According to the roadmap, it is in all states to accelerate the development of mineral resources in a sustainable manner. The initiative is already yielding some desired results,” he said
By Chioma Onuegbu Uyo
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/gov-emmanuel-advocates-total-control-mineral-devt-states/
#AkwaIbomisWorking
Ff@MrUdomEmmanuel
Leave a Reply