Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee (MIREMCO) in Benue state Sunday said the committee is working hard to end activities of illegal miners that had prevented the state from benefitting from the vast mineral deposits it possess.
Chairman of the committee, Barrister Fidelis Mnyim, said the state has one of the highest number of mineral deposits in Nigeria, constituting over 85 percent of the country’s mineral deposits.
Speaking with newsmen in Makurdi, Mnyim, who is also the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order in the state said the activities of illegal miners are denying Benue state the 13 percent derivation benefits, adding that 34 out of the 44 mineral resources currently found in Nigeria are deposited in Benue state.
He noted that the committee has been mandated to ensure that He said the committee is saddled with the responsibility of advising the Minister of Solid Minerals on issues related to the sector and also serve as a link between the state and the federal government.
The chairman further regretted that activities of illegal miners and improper coordination of mining activities were seriously affecting the state revenue as well as posing a security threat as the illegal miners sometimes bear arms in defence of their illegal interest.
“We are to ensure that there is smooth mining activities in Benue communities and ensure good working relationship between the locals and the miners for improved revenue generation.
“Benue only gets in the region of 30 million from the 13 percent derivation , and the exploitative activities of illegal miners are responsible for the low benefit the state is getting for the apex government.
“We have no excuse to get such amount. But there is a problem which is the presence of illegal miners in the state. There is the problem of improper report of mining activities in the state that has denied the state royalty and the 13 percent derivatives,” he said.
