FG to collaborate with state governments to eliminate illegal mining

<p>The Federal Government, on Monday, reiterated its commitment to collaborating with state governments to ensure elimination of illegal mining activities across the country.</p>, <p>Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Mary Ogbe, stated this when the Governor of Taraba, Dr Agbu Kefas, visited the ministry in Abuja.</p>, <p>Ogbe said there was the need for collaboration between the ministry and Taraba government to curtail incidences of illegal mining in the state.</p>, <p>She said that the illegal activities had become an endemic economic crime, causing haemorrhage to government’s revenue.</p>, <p>The permanent secretary, who was represented by the Director, Human Resources Department, Alhaji Suleiman Kabir, said that the ministry alone could not combat the menace of the mining activities.</p>, <p>According to her, robust dialogue between the ministry and Taraba government will enhance and sustain the efforts at eliminating the activities of illegal miners within the ambit of the law.</p>, <p>Ogbe commended the move by state governments to prevent breakdown of law and order, occasioned by illegal mining.</p>, <p>She also commended the proactive security measures already taken by Taraba government, adding that the governor should lend necessary assistance to legal miners in the state to engender investors’ confidence.</p>, <p>Responding, the governor, who condemned the activities of illegal miners in his state, said it had caused communal clashes and serious environmental degradation.</p>, <p>Kefas urged the ministry to open a corridor of communication and effective collaboration with the state government.</p>, <p>He said that such collaboration would process and authenticate the licences issued by the ministry to investors as well as other documentations for exploration of mineral resources.</p>, <p>He said that the efforts would also help in curbing and eliminating illegal mining activities across the country.</p>, <p>According to him, the measure will create an enabling environment