Ogah visits Obi of Onitsha, Igwe of Obosi, speaks against illegal mining

FG to establish courts for Illegal mining

Ngozi Chukwudi l Wednesday, November 27, 2019

OBOSI, Anambra, Nigeria – Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah has visited traditional rulers of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe and Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi  canvassing for non engagement in illegal mining of solid minerals in the state.

The Minster visited the two traditional rulers, while on official visit to Metallurgical Training Institute MTI Obosi Anambra state.

At the Obi of Onitsha palace, he appealed to Igwe  Achebe to use his highly revered office to impress on his people to stop illegal mining in the state, stressing that the federal government has approved 13 percent derivation for mineral producing states in the country.

He said the 13 percent derivation was in addition to the normal percentage accrueable to all the state of the federation, saying that Anambra state can benefit from the 13 percent derivation with full cooperation of all the stakeholders in the state.

Oga said he was in the Palace to pay homage to the traditional ruler and to seek his blessings and support for the federal government’s bid to combat illegal mining in the state. Speaking also at the Obi palace, the secretary to Anambra state government, Solo Chukwudeblu who represented Governor Willie Obiano assured that  the state government  would support the federal
government  both in combating illegal mining and development of the institute in the state.

Reacting, Igwe Achebe thanked the minister for the visit and assured him of full cooperation of the people of the state. At Igwe Obosi’s palace, the minister said “I want to appeal to you as an Igwe to speak to other Igwes in the state on how to stop illegal mining as the federal government has approved 13 percent derivation for mineral resources”.

According to him, the federal government is appealing to Igwes to help the government to talk the people to stop illegal mining which leads to degradation and pollutions in the system. Ogah said, the federal government believes so much that the Igwes have the powers and capacities to ask their people to stop illegal mining, extracting and exploring mineral resources without permission from the federal government.

“The land belongs to the state and traditional rulers, but what is under it belongs to the federal government of Nigeria. We want to see how we can work together to ensure that this resources are harnessed in unison  and money deposited in federated account,   so that the state can get its 13 percent derivation, in addition to other shares.

We will still get our own share from the federation account. The igwes should help the federal government to advise the people not to be involved in illegal mining”he said. He also disclosed that the federal government has commenced the process of establishing court for illegal mining in the country and after the establishment of the court, if any person is caught, mining illegally the person will be sent to jail.

“At least, if someone goes to jail for two or more years his political careers is  ended. He cannot play politics again  and the society will no long have more respect for the person” he stated . He further disclosed that the country has over 53 mineral resources and the federal government was working on how to utilize these resources to provide quality living for the people.

According to him, the resources at the disposal of the federal government can no longer fund the budget of the country and the
government is trying to harness all the resources to providing quality healthcare, good schools and other things for the development of the country. He added that he was not saying that people should not mine, but they should seek approval from federal government before engaging in any mining in the country.

“There is a process, if you want to mine. We are not saying that people should not mine, when you want to mine pay your royalty, so
that we can get money to run government and  everybody will get his share “he stated. He also told the Igwe that the federal government has started the process of regularizing the legal frame work for the establishment of the MTI and very soon it will have legal backing to operate and the government is desirous of raising the institute to next level of international exposure.

According to him, the school is for skill acquisition as the federal government is committed to using skills institutions to create more
jobs for Nigerians and lift many out of poverty. Reacting, Igwe  Iweka assured the minister of their supports to the federal government in combating illegal mining in the state and across the country.

He thanked the minister for visiting his palace and people of Obosi, saying  that he was the first minister to visit the people of Obosi while on  official visit to the institute. He urged him, to use his office to uplift the institute to international standard as the only way to lift people out of poverty was through skill acquisitions.

He also commended President Mohammed Buhari for the massive roads construction going on  in the south east and urged him to ensure that he completed them before leaving office.