Akpabio raises concerns over illegal mining that benefits foreigners, impoverishes host communities

***Advocates for Nigeria’s economy to be infused solid minerial exploitation

The President of the senate Godswill Akpabio has raised concerns over the anormally in the mining sector where foreign miners are benefiting more from the nation’s solid minerals than Nigerians who are made to contend with the harzards.
This was just as he advocated for the Nigerian economy to be infused with the richness of solid minerals for diversification from oil as main stay.

Akpabio spoke on Tuesday, at a three-day investigative hearing on the need to review the nation’s mining industry.
The investigative hearing was held at the Senate wing of the National Assembly and organised by the senate committee on Solid Minerals Development.

Akpabio, who analysed the situation of the mining sector, explained that foreign miners exploited Nigeria’s solid minerals and left the country to continue facing insecurity.

“As usual, more foreigners are earning in mining than Nigerians. Instead, they left us with tales of woes including insecurity” the senate president said.
According to him, the nation’s mining sector ought to be a catalyst that determines foreign exchange.
He also noted that if the sector can be controlled, it would help the country achieve social inclusion and empower Nigerians.
“We can no longer overlook the immense potential of this sector. The mining industry should be a cornerstone of our foreign exchange earnings and a catalyst for social inclusion and empowerment” Mr Akpabio added.
The senate president claimed that Nigeria possesses the capacity to lead other countries in the mining sector because the nation is blessed with abundant solid mineral resources.

“Our beloved country, blessed with abundant mineral resources, has the potential to become a global powerhouse in the mining sector.
“However, to realize this potential, we must confront the challenges that hinder the growth of this sector. This investigative hearing presents us with an opportunity to ask the tough questions, identify these challenges, and develop effective strategies to overcome them”.
On the need to diversify the economy from overdependence on oil, he asked rhetorically,
“Why can’t we infuse our economy with the richness of solid minerals and liberate ourselves from the shackles of oil dependence? How can we transform our mono-economy into a fully diversified economy?
“These are the fundamental questions that we must confront and address. Today, we embark on a 3-day Investigative Hearing on the comprehensive review of the Nigeria Mining Industry, driven by the spirit of inquiry and the desire for economic diversification.”
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Sampson Ekong, lamented uncontrolled and unchecked illegal mining activities in the country.
Ekong who is representing Akwa-Ibom South Senatorial District noted that the unchecked illegal mining is increasing insecurity challenges in the country.
“It is disturbing that as a country, we have not been able to adequately maximise the advantage of our huge endowments. The natio loses so much daily , to illegal, unaccounted for and undocumented mining.

“There have also been mounting concerns over misues of our natural endowment to fuel insecurity. All these have to be checked through our collective efforts.
“We have a duty to make the Nigerian solid minerals sector work optimally, generate the projected revenue for the country, improve our GDP and strengthen our economy