Following the recent threat by the federal ministry of mining and steel, that Ebonyi and Lagos states would lose their 13 percent derivation revenue, the Ebonyi state government, last week, reacted to the development and raised pertinent questions bordering on who controls solid minerals, between the federal government and state governments, among others. EGWUAGHA AMARACHUKWU reports
Degradation
Ebonyi government last week lampooned the federal government, saying it (Federal government) lacks enough capacity to supervise miners in the state, because it lacks the personnel such that miners do what they like which causes degradation at the expense of the community, land owner and the state government.
Speaking to our Correspondent in Abakiliki, while reacting to threat by the federal ministry of mining and steel, that Ebonyi and Lagos states would lose their 13 percent derivation revenue shared among states active in solid minerals, the Ebonyi state Commissioner for Solid Mineral Development, Dr. Orji, said although the federal government has the exclusive right to issue licence to miners in the state, state government s have the right to protect the surface ground and the environment from degradation. He made the disclosure and insisted that the federal government had failed in its responsibility to monitor those it issued licences.
According to Orji, “the federal government only issues licences to miners but fails to monitor what they do with the licenses issued to them (miners), the federal government lacks the personnel to monitor the activities of illegal miners who use and subject Ebonyians to various diseases”.
Misconception
“I think there must have been a misconception or misunderstanding. However, we are not unmindful of the exclusivity of the solid mineral sector which gives all the right to the federal government to give licenses and monitor the activities of the miners.
“They also should respect our own side because we have the exclusivity of the surface of the land which is in the hands of the governor which must be held in trust for the state. The federal government issues licenses in Abuja, but they do not have adequate capacity to supervise the operations of the miners”.
On environmental impact, he said:
“The environmental degradation happens on the surface of the land which belongs to the state government. But the solid mineral itself is underground; it is not on the surface just as the federal government knows that before you get to the underground, you must have devastated the surface.
“And in protecting the environment, we must ensure that the miners are using the best practices in getting what is below ground level. Because we are the immediate sufferers of those devastation and environmental degradation.
Poor and Improper Attitude to Mining
Orji continued: “How can miners be mining without personal private equipment on their body, using Ebonyians who are subjected and exposed to various diseases as a result of poor and improper attitude to mining. How can foreigners invade the state without proper documentation and then operate in our state and keep quiet and there are no enough federal agencies to monitor these activities and streamline them to work in consonance with the state agencies.
“So, we are taking our destinies in our hands. To the extent of which it conflicts with the federal law, we will be mindful of that. But the federal government should be mindful of our personal safety, of our environment and all the attributes that will enhance living in our state”.
Health and Safety
Apparently not done, he stressed: “We are the immediate sufferers of those negligence and we cannot neglect our lives and our safety. His Excellency, the governor of Ebonyi State is a very proactive personality. He is a man that loves his people. So, the lives, health and safety of Ebonyians are very important and we cannot devastate our lives for nothing. We must have benefit of the solid mineral in our land, respecting federal government directives in that respect.
“All the federal government does is to issue licences in Abuja. What they use the licences to do here, they do not know. And as I say to you they lack the requisite power to supervise those they gave the licenses. They do not, leaving them at the mercy of the state”.
Way Forward
“Since we start flushing them out and then regularising the irregularities and illegalities, they are complying and those who are not complying, we have the state law. We have the mining and mineral Acts 2007 and 2008 and mining regulations act 2011, and we are working on those platforms to determine those who are legal or illega”, he said.
