Fed Ministry of Solid Minerals pledges support for mining sector in Taraba
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has pledged to support the Taraba State government towards ensuring that the people of the State enjoy the natural resources endowed across the State.
The Federal Mines Officer in charge of Taraba State Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Kutman Hosea Ali, who added that Taraba State government is serious about Mining in the country, stated this during a Mining Sector Roadmap Development Stakeholders’ Engagement/ Validation Workshop, 2026.
The workshop with the theme, “Harnessing Partnership for Development and Investment in Sustainable Mining Sector Value Chain in Taraba”, was held at NIN Millennium Suites in Jalingo, the State capital.
Organized by April Benjamin and Dawn Communication Ltd and BioS04 Finland in conjunction with Bureau for Solid Minerals Taraba State, Engr. Ali further described Taraba as one of the most endowed states with natural resources in Nigeria.
Engr. Kutman Hosea Ali
“The Taraba State government is serious about Mining in Nigeria, this means that the Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Development has queued in and will definitely support the state government in ensuring that the people of the State enjoy the endowments that God has blessed them with”,
“We will ensure that any company that wants to mine in Taraba State must make sure that they do that legitimately and legally, you must have your mining licences thoroughly activated”,
“Such a company must encourage community engagement, in line with development agreement which is very paramount. This means that the company must provide the basic social amenities to the people. The public call it, corporate social responsibility while the private sector call it, community development agreement. This is an agreement a company signs that they will cooperate with the community while the duty of the Ministry is to ensure that the company does quality job”, he added.
Presenting a Keynote address, the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS) Barrister Gebon Timothy Kataps said when Governor Agbu Kefas was sworn in in 2023, mining activities in the State was nothing to write home about.
Barr Gebon Timothy Kataps
According to Bar. Kataps, you wouldn’t know who was licenced to mine or not, every body seemed to be a miner. And to ensure that the natural resources of the State makes meaning to its owners, and as a responsible government who needed to protect its environment, government ensured that mining activities are done responsibly, the Governor saw the need to re-organize the sector.
“So, series of executive orders were issued, and I have to say that we have secured Taraba State in terms of security, Investors can come in to do a responsible mining”, he noted. The SGS further, urged the stakeholders, investors, and miners at the occasion to contribute meaningfully aimed at producing a roadmap that will attract the attention of miners to the State.
He however, called on the visitors to fast-track their work, saying some funds have already been invested for the commencement of mining activities in the State. “That is why His Excellency has set up a Committee for the members of the State House of Assembly to coordinate its activities, to make things easy for the Miners that are coming in.
“Every interested person must be involved so that as you go through the roadmap, we want you to quickly tidy up, so that you have a comprehensive roadmap, data, website, the statistics”, you will make data available so that the Investors, any where they are, will click to our website and know that this is what we have in Taraba”, the SGS said.
In a remark, former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah said the State is open for responsible mining, not illegal one.
Rt Hon Abel Peter Diah
Rt. Hon. Diah who represents Mbamnga Constituency at the assembly posited that any company that wants to mine in the State is allowed but the company must be legal, you must encourage community engagement and participation, meaning that you must employ miners from that particular community, the account you want to also use must be accessible to the State government, to ascertain who and who you pay the money to.
“This is because government has invested so much in security. Of recent, we discovered that majority of irresponsible miners and investors use mining as a shield to pay bandits, to buy weapons to support banditry”, he said.
In an interview with journalists shortly, member representing Kurmi State constituency at the state House of Assembly, Hon. Tafarki Agbadu Eneme, thanked the State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas for organizing the workshop in partnership with Finland.
Hon. Eneme, who is also the chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Environment and the Coordinator Central zone of the State noted that Finland is the highest mining country in Europe. “I want to tell you that I am very happy to be part of this workshop, I want to thank His Excellency for appointing me to be the chairman of this zone, we will do what it takes for our people to benefit from the natural resources endowed in Taraba State”, he added.
Our Correspondent gathered that the following Resource Persons presented different papers thus; “Lasse Moilanen, Chairman, BIOSO4, Dr. Ulari Nze-Dike, Project Manager, April, Benjamin and Dawn Communication and Adiya Urionu Ngozichukwuka, MD/CEO, April Benjamin and Dawn Communication respectively.
Papers presented by the above stated were; “Report of 2024 Mining Finland Exploratory visit to Taraba State, with identification of gaps and constraints”, “The Mining landscape”, “Draft of Taraba State Mining Sector Roadmap.
The workshop climaxed with interactive session, discussions, among others”.
