Senator Ekong Sampson, Senate Committee Meet Niger State Governor in Minna, Chart Way Forward for Mining

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Senator Ekong Sampson, Senate Committee Meet Niger State Governor in Minna, Chart Way Forward for Mining

Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin says IBB gave Akwa Ibom pathway, showers praises on elder statesman

By Samuel Udoma, in MINNA

Senator Ekong Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South and Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, yesterday, led the Committee on Solid Minerals, on a oversight visit to Niger State.

Senator Sampson, alongside other members of the Committee including Senators Diket Plang, Amos Yohanna, Anthony Ani, Okechukwu Ezea, was received by the Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Mohammed Umaru Bago, at Government House in Minna.

Sen. Ekong Sampson and Governor Bago of Niger State

The Senate Committee on Solid Minerals was in Niger State on an oversight visit, to among other things, visit the mining site collapse in Shiroro Local Government Area, engage with critical stakeholders, as part of the resolutions of the Senate towards finding the remote cause of the tragic rock slide, which claimed many lives, earlier this year.

Recall that on June 3, 2024, the nation was engulfed in the grief of the collapse of a mining site in Galadima-Kogo village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. Senator Sani Musa, representing Niger East, brought the attention of the Senate to the mishap, and the Committee on Solid Minerals was consequently mandated to follow up on the unfortunate incidence, for further legislative action. Senator Musa himself, was also on ground to receive his colleagues in Minna, yesterday.

Addressing Gov. Bago, alongside some members of his cabinet who were on hand to also receive the national legislators, Senator Ekong Sampson said the visit to Governor Bago and Niger State was part of efforts to chart pathways towards sustainable sector involvement in the mining industry in light of the Shiroro tragedy, and to avert future reoccurrence.

While commiserating with Governor Bago and the people of Niger State over the unfortunate event, Senator Sampson expressed worry that the projected multi billion dollars minerals sector of Nigeria was being exponentially threatened by unwholesome practices in the industry. He sued for collaboration between the National Assembly and industry players towards entrenching workable panaceas for the sector.

While acknowledging the minerals potential of Niger State, the Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin took out time to pay tribute General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, former military Head of State and an iconic son of Niger State, for what he termed ‘opening pathway for Akwa Ibom’ where he hails from.

Recall that on 23rd September, 1987, General Babangida, popularly known as ‘IBB’, created Akwa Ibom and Katsina States. Sampson noted that the elder statesman has remained a notable figure in Nigeria’s sociopolitical odyssey.

In his response, Governor Umaru Bago expressed appreciation to the Committee for the visit, which he noted, had enlivened mood since the mining sad event. Bago alluded to the fact that illegal mining had done great harm to Nigeria, and called for responsible operations in the sector, through proper advocacy and legislations.

Bago, fondly called the ‘Farmer Governor’, opened up on the commitment of the State Government to collaborate with the National Assembly, noting that the minerals sector, which he disclosed that Niger State enjoyed huge benefits from, needed conceited partnership for repositioning.

Some of Niger State government functionaries present during the Senate Committee visit which was generally characterized by warm camaraderie were, Secretary to the State Government, Usman Abubakar, Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Garba Yahaya, among other State EXCO members.

In what was a gloriously absorbing evening, Senator Sampson later honoured the invitation of Gov. Bago to join him at the Shout Thanksgiving Nite, organized by House on the Rock, Minna, later in the night.

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