By Amos Aar
GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Thursday the indefinite suspension of all mining activities in the state on allegation that some indigenous and foreign companies are carrying out illegal mining activities which are posing security and environmental threats to communities.
The governor gave the order Thursday while addressing traditional rulers and stakeholders from Kwande local government who paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Makurdi.
The governor who noted that the mining of solid minerals is on the exclusive list of the federal government said however that he is watching over the land hence miners must obtain approval from him to operate in the state.
Consequently, all mining activities have been suspended to pave the way for proper profiling at the State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Makurdi in order to differentiate between genuine and illegal miners.
“There is a current trend that is happening in Kwande local government that portends security threat to not just Kwande local government but the entire state and this is a result of gold mining activities that are going on in Kwande local government.
“We are aware of our responsibility as a state government and even as Governor, I’m aware of my responsibility and we have discussed with the Kwande local government council, the traditional Council and all the stakeholders, all of them are aware of the illegal mining in Kwande local government.
“There could be genuine miners who have been granted license by the federal government and we have no problem with that because we know that mining is on the exclusive list of the federal government and so it’s the responsibility of the federal government to grant license to miners. But there are procedures to follow and do mining since mining cannot be done in the air.
“I know that the Land Use Act gives me the responsibility to preside over land administration in Benue State and I am not willing to abandon my responsibility at all. So anybody coming into the state with mining license must past through the state government and I will transmit that to the Local Government that will in turn reach out to the community”, Ortom stated.
He disclosed that through the council chairman of Kwande, the state government discovered that many mining companies operating in Kwande local government do not have valid papers; “some of them are foreigners and some are indigenous companies that are going into illegal mining.
“In view of the foregoing, we have decided as a government to suspend all mining activities in Kwande local government with effect from today, 18th August, 2022.
“Anyone caught, whether you have license or not, you will be prosecuted. If you have license, you must come through the office of the Commissioner of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals to get a consent to be transmitted to the local government chairman and then to the community in order to follow the procedure of having access to the land.
“For those who have been granted license by the federal government, they are free but they must follow the procedure to get to the land otherwise it is a breach and we are not going to allow them because they are committing an offence. To allow us have a comprehensive list of those who have license, they will have to come and register with us and we shall profile them to know whether they are criminals or they are not.
“We are taking this proactive step to protect both those with licenses and the citizens of our state”.
Ortom stated that a committee will be set up and it will comprise the technical people involved like the Council Chairman where mining activities are going on, security agencies, traditional rulers and experts to determine how mining activities will be taking place.
“We are going to intervene in other local government areas where we are having similar challenges. We are going to invite Logo, Ogbadibo, Gboko and we are going to invite Guma because barite activities are going on there”, he added.
The governor commended the chairman of Kwande local government, Hon. Orjiir Gbande, for promptly informing the state government about the security and environmental threats posed by the illegal mining activities in the Turan and Kyurav axis of the local government.
He cautioned traditional rulers from the area to desist from unlawfully ceding lands to prospective miners as he pointed out that that only the State Government had the rights to approve lands for use by anyone for such purpose.
Governor Ortom also tasked the elites to sensitise their communities on the impending dangers of allowing unauthorised persons access to their communities for the purpose of mining.
Also Speaking, Senator representing Benue North-East Senatorial district, Senator Gabriel Suswam, advised Benue people to be united in order to overcome the security challenges confronting the state.
He appealed to traditional rulers, especially those from Kwande local government area to be security conscious so as not to accommodate criminal elements who may infiltrate their communities to exploit the available mineral resources.
On his part, the council chairman, Kwande local government, Hon. Orjiir Gbande in his remarks, pledged to ensure that his people heed to the Governor’s warning concerning the issue of illegal mining.
In separate remarks, the Tor Kwande, His Royal Highness, Ambrose Iortyer and the Ter Kwande, His Royal Highness, Timothy Ahile, as well as Justice Terna Puusu (Rtd), appreciated Governor Ortom for his proactive approach to nip in the bud any security breach.
