By Solomon OKPO
The Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development has issued a strong warning to mining operators across the country to comply strictly with safety regulations and ethical standards or face legislative consequences.
This came during a high-level oversight visit to mining sites and stakeholders in Ebonyi and Enugu States earlier in the week. The Committee, led by its Chairman, Senator Ekong Sampson, decried what it described as “alarming levels of complacency” and “environmental decapitation” resulting from reckless mining practices in various parts of the country.
Speaking at stakeholder town hall engagements in Abakaliki and Enugu, Senator Sampson, who represents Akwa Ibom South, emphasized that Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth must not be exploited at the expense of community wellbeing, ecological stability, and national interest.
“Mining should not be about just carting away underground wealth,” Sampson said. “We must entrench responsible practices that ensure sustainability, security, and socioeconomic benefits to our people.”
He charged stakeholders to align with extant mining laws and ethical standards, noting that the Committee’s tour was pursuant to a Senate resolution aimed at strengthening policy, enhancing legislative synergy, and pushing for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s mining framework in line with economic diversification goals.
During courtesy visits to the Governments of Ebonyi and Enugu, Senator Sampson acknowledged the rich mineral deposits in the two states, stressing that their full development could serve as a catalyst for investment, job creation, and national growth.
In Ebonyi, the team was received by Deputy Governor Princess Patricia Obila, who stood in for Governor Francis Nwifuru. She welcomed the Senate Committee’s intervention and advocated for closer collaboration between the state and federal governments to streamline mining activities and boost internally generated revenue (IGR).
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who received the delegation personally, also aligned with the Committee’s reform agenda. He, however, identified lack of credible geological data and poor access to investment-grade information as major constraints undermining growth in the sector.
“Our nation is sitting on immense untapped mineral wealth,” Governor Mbah said. “But without reliable data and strategic collaboration, we cannot unlock the full value of these resources.”
As part of its itinerary, the Senate Committee visited several mining sites and companies in both states, including First Patriots Limited in Ameka, Setraco Quarry in Ezillo, African Pit Quarry in Udi, and other active operations.
Accompanying Senator Sampson on the trip were Senator Mustapha Khabeeb (Vice Chairman), Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (Deputy Majority Whip), Senator Diket Plang, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, Senator Anthony Ani, and Senator Okechukwu Ezea, among others.
The Committee’s engagements are expected to feed into a broader national strategy to reposition the mining sector as a key driver of Nigeria’s post-oil economic agenda.
