Assembly inaugurates committee, vows to flush out illegal miners from Kogi

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

KOGI State House of Assembly has officially inaugurated its House Standing Committee on Solid Mineral, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with a vow to flush out illegal miners operating in the State.

Chairman of the newly inaugurated Committee, Hon. Omotayo Adeleye Ishaya (APC-Ijumu) disclosed this in an interview with Assembly Correspondents shortly after inauguration of the committee on Thursday in Lokoja

Ishaya, one of the two women legislators in the House, said that it had come to the notice of the Assembly that, there were many illegal miners illegally mining the state mineral resources and thus milking the state dry.

The Committee chairperson said that the House in exercising it’s oversight functions in the sector would ensure that any illegal miner caught operating anywhere in Kogi State will be apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law.

“Gentle Men of the press, you all know how we (Women) are. Whenever we want to do things, we do it thoroughly, without fear or favour. We have put so many measures to curb some sharp practices as it concerns mining activities in our dear State.

“It has come to the notice of this hallow chamber that, there are some companies extracting our God-given resources without following due process.

“It is on this premise we are sounding a note of warning that it will no longer be business as usual. We will come after them no matter how highly connected they are.

The eighth Assembly will fetch them out from their hiding place. The committee will ensure that things are done properly to increase the internally generated revenue of Kogi State”, she stated.

Earlier in his remarks, Hon. Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin (APC-Ajaokuta) stressed that the committee was set to hit the ground running by performing its oversight functions as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

Jibrin there was need for various agencies in the sector to work in synergy to exploit and fully tap the mineral resources adding that Providence had endowed and blessed Kogi State with so many natural and mineral resources.

Mr Dare Bokoh, Liaison officer of Rock Bottom Mines and Power, also speaking, told journalists that the organization had maintain good working relationship with the lawmakers.

He stressed that the Company remain committed to effective service delivery to the people of Kogi State.

Top officials from Solid Mineral, SDG all expressed gratitude to the house and appealed to them to use their legislative powers to ensure that they are accorded the needed support to perform their duties effectively. (Ends)