ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT MOVES TO REFORM MINING SECTOR

REPORTER: CHIKA ESONWUNE

The Anambra state Government says it is putting measures in place to reform its mining sector in conformity with global best practices.

The Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources in the State, Mr. Anthony Ifeanya, made this known at an interactive session with stakeholders in Awka.

The Commissioner emphasized that the temporary suspension of the activity in the state was not to witch-hunt any body but a measure to have a unified system of mining in the area.

Mr. Ifeanya, who said that illegal mining deprived the state of its revenue, added that a template would be made available and those would meet the requirements would be issued clearance certificate to commence mining activities.

For his part, the Chairman, Anambra State Mining Reform Committee, Professor Charles Ofoegbu,
emphasized that the interaction was to chart a better way to standardize mining activities in line with the law and global best practices.

Professor Ofoegbu, who was represented by the Special Advicer to Governor Soludo on Security, Retired Air Vice Marshall Ben Chiobi, asked those whose equipment were confiscated by government taskforce to write to the office of the Special Adviser to Governor on Security, stating clearly the items ceased, when, and where.

He promised to make a case for their release.

For the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu, Anambra State Environment is under existential threat with over one thousand active erosion sites outside the new underwater erosion threatening Ogbaru and its environs.

He noted that the negligence, in-activity, actions and in-actions taken on the environment for years by miners were the cause of the present day environmental degradation.

Prof. Ofoegbu warned them to desist immediately from such to save the future generation.

Some of the attendees, Mr. Uche Okafor, Chief Lawrence, Mrs. Chinasa Okafor promised to completely abide by the contents of the template while appealing for immediate lift of the ban and periodic inspection of their sites.

The interactive forum climaxed with question and answer session.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU