Lift the ban on mining – fed. Min. of Solid Minerals begs Taraba Gov
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO
The Federal Mines officer in-charge of Taraba State, Engr. Kutman Hosea Ali has made a passionate appeal to the State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas to completely lift the suspension on mining and to also allow all titleholders to resume their mining activities in the state.
Group photo of Guests at NUT House, Jalingo
Engr. Ali who, spoke at the NUT House in Jalingo, on the occasion of second consultative meeting with all legal mineral titleholders of the State, recalled that in September, 2024, when according to him, the first consultative meeting was held, a similar appeal was made to the Governor and Government of the State.
He further told the gathering that the purpose of the day’s meeting was to review the gains and assess the situation before the first consultative meeting and the situation after the meeting.
Engr. Kutman Hosea Ali
“Before the first consultative meeting, there was a complete ban on mining activities, a task force team led by Gen. Jeremiah Aliyu Faransa (Rtd) constituted, with no mediums for miners to interface with the state government”, he said.
Engr. Ali also revealed that after the first consultative meeting was held, the State government dissolved and reconstituted Gen. Faransa’s led Task Force with new operation guidelines. “The Taraba State government organized an investment forum tagged, Taravest, 2025, during which the participants encouraged the government to support and encourage local investors especially the miners”,
“There is now more interface between miners and the state government, some miners have gone back to their sites”, he said.
Added to the above stated, Engr Ali stressed that, ‘as good corporate citizens, with give-back-to your community initiatives’, all minerals’ titleholders in the State made the commitments of agreeing to be paying community development levies to the State. “Agreed to be paying haulage fees, agreed to submit their company’s employees for profiling by security agencies in conjunction with Ministries of Solid Minerals Development”.
Describing the above stated as the gains of the first consultative meeting held in September, 2024, Engr Ali also pleaded for the governor to kindly consider and approve the process of environmental clearance, to drastically reduce the cost of environmental clearance for mining companies, ensure that only companies that have been granted permit to mobilize to site are given environmental clearance.
Engr. Ali, emphasized that the State Government Committee on Environment and Resources Management, led by Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah should be changed to Taraba State Minerals Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) in compliance with NMMA, 2007 and NMMR, 2011.
Engr Kutman interfacing with the media
“And to include the representatives of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Mines Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in the State Task Force on illegal mining”,
“Taraba State government should direct Traditional Rulers on the need to protect legal mining sites from illegal mining activities by their youths and to always report illegal mining to the security”,
“The state government should collaborate with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to sensitize traditional Rulers, community leaders, and local government officials on signing and implementation of Community Development Agencies”, Engr. Ali pleaded.
Alhaji Umar Mohammed, State chairman, Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN)
Our Correspondent gathered that the second consultative meeting of Legal Mineral titleholders and Ministry of Solid Minerals Development attracted Chief executives, senior executives of Mining companies, senior government officials, top Echelon of security agencies and other critical stakeholders who appreciated Governor Kefas for restoring security in the State.
