The federal mines office in kogi state has said it was not in any way in collaboration with the kogi state government on matter relating to closing down of mining activities in the state,
The Federal Mines Officer (FMO) in charge of the state , Engineer B. F kuye disclosed this in a statement to newsmen in Lokoja at the weekend.
The kogi state state government on Thursday said in a statement that it has suspended all Mining activities in the state in order to “have genuine Mining Data, clean up the sector to minimise or eradicate criminalities in totality.
“The state will work in accordance with the rules of the games and will collaborate with the Federal Mines Officers and the Security Agencies”.
In a statement, Engineer Kuye noted that the power to suspend mining activities in the state lies with the federal government, not with the state , as spelt out by the constitution of the country.
“The statement credited to the state government that in collaboration with the Federal Mines Officers has suspended mining operations in the state has painted our office in a bad light.
“Closing down MINING companies in the state is tantamount to killing mining activities in the state, with heavy implications on the revenue generation .
“For the attention of our esteemed miners in the state, the Federal Mines office in the state was never part of the said decision to suspend mining operations in any guise. Count us out ; We are not aware”, she said .
Engineer Kuye said the Miners in the state should note that the Federal Ministry of Solid minerals is quite different from state Ministry of Solid Minerals, stressing, both the federal and state government has different obligations as stipulated by the enabling laws in mining operations.
Engineer Kuye therefore enjoined the miners to operate within the ambit of the Nigeria mineral and mining Act 2007 and its Regulation 2011.
While federal mines officer urged the state government to sort out things with any miner found operating outside its interest as defined in the constitution , she said the federal office should not be dragged into it issues with the miners .
“The federal mines office is not saying the state should not tackle the issue of insecurity but should not be a way of closing down MINING activities in the state.
“Any company found guilty of harbouring thugs or unorthaurized armed men should be reported to MINES office.And such company will be handed over to the security agencies immediately for law to take its course “, said Engineer Kuye.
However, Engineer Kuye advised the state government to continue to respect constitutional boundary for smooth operation of mining activities in the state.
According to her, umpteenth times, the federal Minister of Solid minerals , Mr Dele Alake had the cause to enlighten the stakeholders in various states for them to know their limitations or boundaries in the exercise of power on mining operations.
Engineer Kuye added that the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals , Dele Alake , in an outing recently spelt out such boundaries outrightly, saying : “the operations of oil and solid minerals belong exclusively in the purview of the federal government.
“The state banning mining activities across the country is seen as out of context . It’s a constitutional matter. I want to let the entire Nigeria public know that no state has the authority to interfer with the mining operations..
“Mining ,like oil and solid minerals belong in legislative list. Therefore,it’s the federal government that has the legal authority and supported by the constitution to make laws, regulations and operationalisation of the solid minerals resources of Nigeria
“That is the law . But for the state to wake up and said it is regulating mining activities is like a state waking up to ban oil exploration”,
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