Ododo Orders Regulation Of Mining Activities In Enjema

Kogi State governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has directed the regulation of mining activities in Enjema community, Ankpa local government area.

He insistedthat legitimate artisanal miners should not be criminalised for engaging in lawful economic activities.

The governor stated this during an on-the-spot assessment of mining sites in the community, where he expressed concern over environmental degradation, damaged infrastructure and the absence of basic social amenities despite the area’s mineral wealth.

Ododo said the government would not allow legitimate miners to be lumped together with criminal elements, stressing that those engaged in lawful mining to earn a living deserved protection.

He disclosed that the state government had profiled a significant number of artisanal miners, including over 1,000 degree holders, more than 500 master’s degree holders and over 300 individuals without formal educational qualifications.

“They are not kidnappers. They are not armed robbers.

They have chosen not to go the way of kidnapping.

They have chosen to earn a living through their hands. Why should somebody come here, arrest them and tag them as illegal miners?” the governor queried.

He maintained that his administration would not permit legitimate mining operations to be disrupted under the guise of tackling insecurity, adding that the government remained committed to protecting the lives and livelihoods of residents.

The governor, however, expressed displeasure over the poor state of roads and the lack of essential social amenities in Enjema, despite the exploitation of mineral resources in the area.

Consequently, Ododo directed the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development to collaborate with the leadership of the miners’ association to obtain a comprehensive list of licensed mining operators in the community for proper engagement.

He said the government would engage the operators to ensure that they fulfilled their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations, particularly in rehabilitating damaged roads and providing essential facilities, including schools, potable water and electricity.

Ododo also cautioned traditional rulers against granting consent to unlicensed mining operators, directing those who had issued such approvals without following due process to withdraw them.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Bashir Gegu, commended the governor for personally visiting the community, describing the move as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to ensuring that the state’s mineral resources benefit its people.

Gegu explained that the state government had strengthened regulations governing mining activities, particularly the issuance of community consent letters and the implementation of Community Development Agreements (CDAs).

He stressed that such agreements should not be limited to token financial empowerment but must incorporate sustainable development projects, including good roads, potable water, electricity, quality schools and scholarships for members of host communities.

The commissioner said the measures were aimed at ensuring that mining activities translated into tangible development and improved living conditions for communities hosting mineral resources.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, Yunusa Oruma, appreciated the governor for the visit and the administration’s support for the mining sector.

Oruma described Ododo as a supporter of the mining industry and pledged the association’s readiness to mobilise artisanal and other categories of miners in support of the administration.