By Amos Aar
BENUE STATE governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has demanded for the inclusion of Benue among states that enjoy thirteen per cent derivation from the federation account based on mineral deposits found in them.
Governor Alia made the call on Monday at Government House, Makurdi when he received reports on illegal mining, illegal logging and illegal road blocks from the joint taskforce on the three illicit activities.
He said in spite of the huge mineral deposits, Benue State was yet to gain federal attention and included in the revenue sharing formula, rather some economic saboteurs were taking undue advantage of that lack of recognition to defraud the people of their economic endowment.
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Governor Alia expressed confidence that the reports of the taskforce would not only provide opportunity for government to change the ugly narrative and check activities of the economic saboteurs but would also provide the state with a road map to access the untapped economic potential for the benefit of all citizens.
He thanked the three committees for their due diligence to the terms of references given to them in record time, promising that their reports would be carefully studied with a view to implementing the recommendations.
Coordinator of the three committees, Colonel Fidelis Chileh (rtd), reemphasized the need for the federal government to consider Benue for the thirteen per cent derivation and called for urgent recruitment and equipment of forest guards to protect biodiversity.
Chairman, Taskforce on Illegal Mining, Dr Comfort Adadu, her counterpart on Illegal Logging, Lt. Col. Ikwue Okpachu (rtd), represented by the secretary, Retired Major Donatus Lyamson, and Retired CSP, Geoffrey Iorbee, who headed Taskforce on illegal road block, made separate presentations on the findings and recommendations.
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Reading the recommendations, Col. Okpachu, particularly called for the establishment of a Forestry Commission with a forensic audit to be conducted on the forest reserves while Benue Internal Revenue Service shall synergize with department of forestry to check revenue losses.
Dr Adadu identified non-compliance to agreement between miners and host communities and multiple taxations as some of the impediments in the mining sector and called on government to appoint competent and technical persons to coordinate the industry as well as train revenue collectors on mineral resources.
