Posted by In an effort to curb illicit mining in Imo State, the state’s legislative body has vowed to back the government’s efforts in this area.
Additionally, it pledged to provide legislative support to help fortify the industry and boost its efficiency.
The pledge was made during a meeting between members of the Assembly’s Committee on Commerce and Industry and officials from the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Solid Minerals, headed by Ernest Ibejiako, the ministry’s commissioner.
During the meeting at the Assembly complex, Johnleoba Iheoha, a lawmaker from the Ikeduru state constituency and chairman of the Committee on Commerce and Industry, laid out the reasons why the sector needs to be repositioned to meet modern demands, in accordance with the goals of the state administration.
In his remarks, Iheoha thanked the ministry officials for their visit and emphasized that the committee’s monitoring role is enshrined in the constitution.
He said that the committee was given the authority to oversee various government ministries, departments, and agencies under the Nigerian Constitution. Its job is to make sure that the executive and judiciary branches of government are doing their jobs well.
He pointed out that millions of Imo people would have jobs thanks to the state’s industrial, mining, and solid mineral sectors, which, if oriented correctly, would generate a lot of money for the government.
He gave the ministry his word that the committee would back the industry in its battle against illicit mining in the state by doing whatever was necessary.
The congressman went on to say that the purpose of the invitation to the sector to come before it is to solicit ideas and gain an inside look at the ministry’s FDI initiatives and objectives.
Speaking to the committee, Ernest Ibejiako, the ministry’s commissioner, stated that the first order he received from the governor was to shut down all illicit mining sites.
Many potentially lucrative areas of land have been ruined, he said, due to the operations of illicit miners.
Illegal mining at Onitsha Road Industrial Layout has wrecked more than 45 plots of land, according to him. He made it clear that the ministry is taking the issue of illegal miners very seriously and is in dire need of additional funding from lawmakers.
According to Ibejiako, who briefed the committee, the governor has finalized plans to build first-rate industrial parks in all three zones.
He assured the public that the state government will handle the matter of residential building construction at the Onitsha Road Industrial Layout through the relevant agency.
The commissioner has expressed optimism that several state-owned businesses, including the Standard Shoe sector in Owerri, the Ezinnachi clay industries, the paper packaging industries, and the ceramic sector, will soon be able to turn a profit again.