By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The Ministry of Mineral Resources has reinvigorated its strategic stance for maximal achievement by engaging some critical stakeholders in the mining industry.
The decision was taken in a meeting with the Cross River State chapter of the Miners Association of Nigeria, MAN led by the chairman, Pastor Ekpenyong Bassey in his office in Calabar.
The interactive meeting was at the instance of the Commissioner to abreast them with the paradigm shift for a more productive and vibrant ministry.
He said that the Ministry has proactively laid intellectual foundation to strengthen the relationship between the Association and the Ministry with the aim at furthering progress in maximal exploitation of Minerals resources and revenue generation.
According to him, hitherto, conflicts had arisen both in government policies and practices in the sector which had negativity affected sound synergy required to drive towards success and that such unfortunate developments which culminated in double taxation and other infringements would be a thing of the past and a more robust and concrete arrangements are put in place to guarantee coerciveness in the mining industry.
The commissioner further assured the association of the readiness of the ministry to partner in all areas that would be of benefit to the state government and also advised them always to be mindful of the extant laws governing the industry so that members would not fall foul of the legal position of government as the law would always take it’s course.
He called on the union to extend it’s operations effectively to the central and the northern senatorial districts of the state,he assured that everything would be done to avoid double taxation.
The commissioner also promised to invoke the powers of government to guarantee loans for the Association members having the capacity and readiness in mining to procure equipment for the venture.
Hon Ekaha pointed out that the process to catalog all mineral resources and their locations across the state has begun to make it easy to convincingly convince investors for realistic MOUs.
Speaking, the state chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ekpenyon Bassey said it’s members were into all kinds of mining including sand, gravel and laterite located in all parts of the state.
While commending the Commissioner for initiating the meeting the Chairman said that he was thrilled by the proactive approach which he stated was a good and viable beginning for the relationship.
He said that the body would try as much as possible to sustain the building synergy with the ministry to ensure success in the mining sector.
Collaborating with one of his executive members, Odu John Odu the chairman appealed to government to encourage indigenous mining activities in the state with bank guarantees for the procurement of equipment to ease operations.
