By Patience Aliyu
Mr Peter Gwom, the Plateau Commisioner for Environment, Climate Change and Solid Mineral Development, says that the move by the State Government to reorganise the mining sector would benefit all citizens.
Gwom said this on Tuesday at a two-day workshop on implementing Extractive Industries Transparency Standards in Plateau, organised by the ministry.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised in collaboration with the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Forum, Publish What You Pay (PWYP) and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI)
The activity is supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC).
The commissioner, who decried the poor revenue accruing to the state from the mineral exploration in the state, insisted that the move to reposition the sector would be of great benefit to all.
“All we are doing is to have proper mechanised mining, and eventually have value addition to the minerals that are on the Plateau.
“Not so many people are into proper and mechanised mining and we are trying to encourage it.
“The government is doing it best to put things in place, so that companies that have licenses can operate optimally.
“The state is loosing in terms of revenue and what have you, and this is why we are taking the bold step to right the wrong,”he said.
The Commisioner, who further disclosed that over 300 licensed mining companies and 1,000 tin sheds were operating in the state, however, decried the rise in the activities of illegal miners.
Gwom, who particularly decried the surge in social vices, insecurity, decline in school enrolment, among others, said that the move by the state government had so far yielded some positive results.
The commissioner, who thanked RoLAC for supporting the event, called on the participants and other key stakeholders to support government’s bid towards repositioning the mining sector in the state.
Speaking, Mr Mantim Dala, the Coordinator of RoLAC in Plateau, said that the intervention aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the extractive industry.
He maintained that the challenges in the mining sector, particularly corruption, had over time posed a serious threat towards the overall development of state and the nation in general.
Dala explained that the meeting had brought critical stakeholders together to fashion out best ways of repositioning the mining sector in Plateau.
“So the whole idea is to look at the topical issue on the Plateau and beam the lens of transparency and accountability in the mining sector.
“The meeting will enable us unravel some of the symptoms or perhaps inadequacies in managing the extractive industry in Plateau.
“But of course, the whole idea is to look at how to improve the way the sector is being administered,”Dala said
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN (NAN) reports that the workshop had in attendance Civil Society Organisations, government officials, the media, among others.(NAN)