Edo State Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Hon. Enaholo Ojiefoh, has unveiled plans by the state government to embark on a systematic regulation of all mining operations to position the state government as a major player and an enabler in the solid mineral market value chain.
Hon. Ojiefoh made this known at an enlarged meeting organized by the ministry to brainstorm, draft and adopt a mining policy document that will open up the sector for investors and investments.
The Commissioner pointed out that government has massively retooled its security architecture and created a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in the state. He said that government is not unaware of challenges and unwholesome activities going on in the sector, hence it developed a master plan to make mining attractive and profitable to all stakeholders.
“The Governor of the state has developed a master plan to make mining lucrative in the state. And it’s a concern to government how miners survive in the bush. Security, funding, machinery, community relationship with miners, multiple taxation and infrastructure will be looked at to open up the solid mineral business in the state,” Ojiefoh said.
“In a couple of days, the ministry will be launching a database of licensed miners and their locations. Mr. Obaseki wants to support you by giving you the enabling environment for your business to thrive,” he said.
The Commissioner said many investors are coming into the solid mineral sector of the state, plus a machinery company that is coming onboard to lease out machines and equipment at a reduced cost.
“We have to be sure that when these companies come there will be people to lease their machines. Government is also working with the modular refineries to make diesel available at a reduced cost to power your heavy duty trucks, excavators and other equipment.
“Building a tank farm in Edo North is also under consideration. Edo State government under Mr. Obaseki is doing a total resetting of the system,” he assured.
Hon. Ojiefoh said that a taskforce will be launched by government to check illegal mining activities, insecurity and other issues bedevilling the sector, adding that government is designing a policy that will guide burrow pit operations because of its deep concern about the safety of the environment.
“Government wants the environment to be safe for investors and investments. The Ekpeshe issue is a disaster and the people that mined there are long gone; they cannot be reached for remedial purposes. The database of licensed miners operating in the state comes into play here. By this government will be able to identify miners and the area they are operating from,” he said.
The Commissioner disclosed that the investors coming are going to partner with indigenous companies operating in the state, noting that the era where multinational companies muzzle indigenous ones is gone.
In an opening remark, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Engr. Ferguson Enabulele, said the meeting was convened at the instance of the Commissioner to canvass views on how to move the sector forward.
“Solid mineral is a great endowment from God. A lot of unwholesome activities are going on there than even the oil and gas sector. We cannot actually appreciate the level of wastage of solid mineral because their locations are far from our abode,” Enabulele said.
“It has become imperative for stakeholders to come together to brainstorm on the way forward that will bring about a win-win situation for stakeholders in the solid mineral value chain,” he said.
Noting that the sector is riddled with a lot of challenges, from environmental degradation to insecurity and other illegal activities, Engr. Enabulele expressed hope that at the end of the meeting, possible ways to surmount the challenges would have emerged for the greater good of all.
On his part, the Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Hon. Kingsley Uwagbale, disclosed that a lot is going on at the back end to ensure the state is safe for lives and businesses leveraging technology.
“We are partnering with relevant security agencies to ensure lives, investors and investments are safe. Security is specific and understanding what is peculiar in an area is key. Intelligence drives security,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Arch. Joshua Omokhodion, urged miners to consider the environment in their operations, noting that mining activities are a disaster to the environment.
The Federal Ministry of Mines commended Edo State government for organising the stakeholders meeting to find a way forward in the business of mining.
Edo State Chairman of Miners Association of Nigeria, Engr. Michael Okhumode, commended the government under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki for convening the meeting to address challenges bedevilling the sector.
He urged all members to ensure they are registered as it is no longer business as usual, insisting that illegal mining would not be tolerated in the state.
Resolutions on how the mining business can be managed for the betterment of all were reached at the breakout session.
