The Government of Ebonyi State is determined to punish all who have decided to be violating mining laws even when they know the right thing to do.
The Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Dr Kenneth Ugbala Igwe stated this while flagging off a one day sensitisation workshop organised by women in mining in Abakaliki, the State capital.
Dr Igwe said henceforth, anyone who violates mining law would be handled in accordance with the law.
He said, ” As from today, all Miners must enter into Memorandum of understanding MOU with the state before operation and as well must also pay royalty to the host communities.”
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Environment, Prince Sunday Ugwuocha while delivering his lectures said Mining in Nigeria was as far back as 1903, that “if safety measures as contained in Mining laws are obeyed, that it would help to solve both financial and material needs of Nigeria citizens”.
“It should be noted that solid mineral mining which was the first to be discovered helped Nigeria Government in her post Independent operation,” he stated.
The State Chairman of Women in Mining, Princess Sylvia Ogbuinya said they embarked on the sensitisation workshop because of the harm which mining has caused in the State.
“After this workshop, we are going to work with Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Ministry of Environment to match force on those violators who leaves the ground open after mining, those pits have to be filled. Those who allows under age Children and pregnant women to be working for them must be arrested and prosecuted,” Ogbuinya said.
She noted that those pits which was not filled have claimed many lives of innocent and great men and women of the State.
The Chairman called on law enforcement agencies to support them in the fight against illegal mining in the State.
Confidence Okwuchi
