The Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development has noted that no state can grow the solid minerals sector alone without working together with the Federal Government.
This view was shared by the committee chairman, Senator Ekong Sampson, during official visits to the Governors of Enugu and Ebonyi states. These visits were part of the Senate committee’s tour of mining locations in the South-East, aimed at understanding the sector better and collecting useful details to help shape Nigeria’s mining policies.
Speaking in Enugu after a meeting with Governor Peter Mbah, Senator Sampson said, “No level of government can go it alone if we are to harness the full potential of mining in this country. There must be a winning synergy between the federal, state, and local governments.”
He noted that the team’s goal is to see things for themselves, understand challenges on the ground, and come up with clear steps to move the industry forward. Sampson also pointed out that solid minerals play a major role in President Bola Tinubu’s plan to improve Nigeria’s economy through his Renewed Hope Agenda. He mentioned that N1 trillion has already been set aside in the 2025 budget for this sector.
Other members of the oversight team included Senator Kabeeb Mustapha (Vice Chairman), Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Deputy Majority Whip), Senator Anthony Ani, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, Senator Diket Plang, and Senator Okechukwu Ezea.
During the meeting, Governor Peter Mbah shared his thoughts on the way forward. He said, “Nigeria is sitting on untapped wealth. Solid minerals hold immense potential for economic diversification, and the ongoing review of the Mining Act must ensure greater state inclusion and participation.” He added that poor geological data and lack of accurate information discourage investors from coming in.
According to Mbah, fixing these gaps and clearly dividing roles between all levels of government will help bring in more serious investors.
In Ebonyi State, the Senate team was received by Deputy Governor Patricia Obila, who represented Governor Francis Nwifuru. Obila also called for more cooperation with the Federal Government to ensure that the state’s large deposits of minerals are properly used to boost development.
“We are determined to form a solid partnership. Ebonyi has vast untapped mineral deposits, and proper collaboration will not only boost our IGR but also ensure the benefits trickle down to all Nigerians,” Obila noted.
