The Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, Mr Fidelis Mnyim has lamented the impact of Illegal Mining Activities on the state’s solid minerals sector.
He said the state, despite being a mineral rich location, with 34 out of 44 types of solid minerals found in Nigeria, domiciled there, the state is yet to be placed among mineral-rich states to benefit fully from the Federal Government’s 13 percent derivation funds.
“It is quite unfortunate that our 13 percent derivative is very, very low. There are several miners who are inactive in the state. Most persons will just go and get licences and not do anything while there are other persons who are operating without licences and there are some with licences but have failed to operate with certain requirements”.
The Mineral Resources and Environment Committee is an advisory body set up by the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake to liaise and create synergy between the Federal Government, the State and the host communities to see how mineral resources are properly developed and harnessed.
He expressed the hope that the presence of the committee would not only assist but also take very deliberate steps in ensuring that the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of the state was greatly enhanced.
“We have a window to take back from the state 13 percent derivatives which is through royalty payment. So, our duty is to look into this synergy and ensure that mineral resources are fully developed in the state”.
Mr Mnyim who is also the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order in Benue State, promised that the Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee would implement the mandate of the Federal Government to ensure that mineral deposits in the State were fully harnessed.
“The committee is created under the mineral and mining act 2009, particularly section 19. The State has the opportunity to benefit from the act, bearing in mind that the issue of solid minerals is in the exclusive list and the State Government’s benefit from that section of the act”.
He lamented that activities of illegal miners and improper coordination of mining activities were seriously affecting the revenue generation of the State adding that such activities had also posed a big security threat.
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