The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited, Prof. Charles Ofoegbu has debunked the rumours being spread in the state about the State Government’s ban of mining activities.
He described it as unacceptable and a move to sabotage the good deeds of the governor.
Prof. Ofoegbu made this remark when Federal Mines Officers in Anambra State paid him a visit in his office to disclose their displeasure with the recent activities and the rumoured ban of mining activities in the State.
Prof. Ofoegbu, who is the chairman of the mining reform committee set up by the State Government to look into the activities of illegal mining said categorically that Anambra State Government never did not ban and is not planning to ban mining in the state.
He frowned at the rate at which miners go about spreading false rumours and at the same time where regulators and staff of the Federal Mines office were involved in such practices with the miners which in turn is starving the Federal Government of royalty due to it as well as the to the state.
Prof. Ofoegbu took time to educate the visitors on the havoc and consequences of illegal mining and the role of their office also in perpetuating the illegalities.
He listed the cases of damages to the environment, unregulated mining in areas where there should be no mining, collapse of houses around the coastline of the river Niger, the inland water potholes that have been created by the so called sand miners.
He stressed that the laterite excavation and erosions caused by mining activities, has led to a case where a medical center built to serve a community is near collapsing as a result of mining.
He noted that mining should be done in a sustainable manner in line with International best practices, and that the state in its action is also helping the Federal Government to regain the royalty that is not being paid to it from where Anambra State gets 13.5 percent derivation fund.
The ANSMDCL boss mentioned the steps taken so far with the registration, verification and certificate issuance to miners, noting that every step taken is at the instance of the reform committee with the approval of the government.
Responding, the Federal Mines Officers led by Engr. Temidayo Bolarinwa expressed shock that such things were happening and even acknowledged the cases sighted by Prof. Ofoegbu to be true.
He said that the steps being taken by the reform committee were in the right direction, and requested that they should be carried along to avoid future objections and misconceptions.
