By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi -.
Benue State Chairman, Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) Barr Fidelis Mnyim has assured that the committee would take deliberate steps to ensure the improvement in the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), through activities of the minerals explorers for the benefit of the state as well as the host communities.
In his interaction with newsmen in Makurdi, the MIREMCO Chairman noted that illegal miners and improper report of mining activities has denied the state much revenue and the 13 percent derivative in the past, as well as caused insecurity in the state.
The MIREMCO Chairman, who is also the Benue State Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, expressed optimism that with commencement of the committee’s work, the desk office would make sure that all persons with mineral licences are the same persons operating, pointing out that some people have collected licences only to go and keep while others were operating in the state without licences.
He lamented that in the past, the Benue State Government despite huge deposit of minerals in the state was only receiving about N30 million as royalties from the federal government as revenue on minerals
Explaining further, the Chairman pointed out that with the establishment of MIREMCO which was created under the Mineral and Mining ACT of 2009, section 19, states including Benue that have about 38 mineral resources out of the 44 found across the country but has not been benefiting its 13 percent derivative fund from the federal government, would start benefiting from the proceeds.
He also explained that other category of miners operating with licences were however not complying with needed lawful requirements such as payment of surface rent, execution of community development agreements which could include construction and maintenance of roads, provision of other infrastructure such water, health centers as well as other incentives.
Mnyim equally lamented that some of the mining companies do not follow the community agreement of the act, assuring that MIREMCO Benue State would ensure that proper royalties are paid to the federal government and would also make sure that the 13 percent derivation for the state is remitted.
He said the committee would equally ensure that proper licence is issued for import and export of these minerals as well as to make sure that environmental impact assessment is properly done in the affected communities.
The Benue State Justice Commissioner and State Chairman of MIREMCO who said the committee has come to stay with establishment of a desk office in Makurdi, appealed to those willing to carryout mining activities in the state to approach the desk officer and register by giving details of their companies, its location, where it is operating for easy relations and for the purposes of checks.
He advised those with mining licences but were yet to commence operations or those that completed every other legal procedure needed for them to commence work but were having challenges such as harassment from the locations, to go to the desk office to register their complaint, adding that those within communities suspected to have mineral tittles yet to be uncovered should also report to the office in Makurdi.
According to him, any company causing any form of trouble such as security threats, among others should be reported, pointing out that operations of MIREMCO would cover activities of both local and foreign investors to ensure mutual benefit.
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