The Benue government has halted all mining operations until all miners’ information has been gathered.
The order was given by Governor Hyacinth Alia in a meeting with Miners Association of Nigeria, Benue Chapter, members in Makurdi.
Additionally, he gave the Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee (MIREMCO) the order to start recording the information of every miner in the state instantaneously.
He said that information about security threats led to the decision to carry out the revalidation exercise.
He was also upset about the contamination of water flows for the people living in the affected regions, particularly Kwande.
The governor instructed law enforcement and the joint task force on illicit mining to make sure the proper actions were taken to improve public health and raise internally generated revenue.
“Any illegal activity will not be tolerated by the state government. He declared, “It is the right of our administration to safeguard the lives and property of the people.
Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, the state commissioner for justice and public order, also stated that while Gov. Alia is not opposed to mining, he does want to keep an eye on illicit mining activity.
Mnyim, who is also MIREMCO’s chairman, stated that the state has developed a checklist for examining Benue’s mining industry.
John Tersugh, the chairman of the Nigeria Miners Association in Benue, pledged in his speech to work with the governor to clean up the mining industry.
Mr. Simon Ogwu, the mining officer for the Federal Ministry of Mining and Solid Minerals, pledged to help the state government sanitize Benue’s mining industry.
Benjamin Nyior and Dennis Tarhemba, two miners, demanded a favorable working environment so they could perform their duties efficiently.
According to NAN, a few association members made a request to the governor asking him to solve the problem of double taxation in the mining sector and give them the equipment they need to help them in the field so they can contribute to the state’s income profile. (NAN)
