Ruth Oginyi
The African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development (Centre LSD)
Thursday held interactive advocacy meeting with stakeholders in mineral and mining industry in Ebonyi state.
The advocacy took place in Abakaliki the Ebonyi state capital.
At the meeting, the Executive Director of Centre LSD, Mr. Monday Osasah, called for a simplified mineral and mining regulation act of 2007 in the state.
He said the 2007 regulation act if produced in a simpler booklet and if possible translated into local languages, the miners will understand and follow the regulation in doing the business.
“There is a need for a simplified mineral and mining regulation act of 2007 in Ebonyi and if you ask me, this falls into the state Ministry of Mines and Solid Mineral Development,”.
The Centre LSD, further pleaded with Ebonyi Government to create enabling environment for mining operations to thrive in the state.
According to Osasah, private miners have been in the mining business and therefore, the state need to make environment conducive so that when any form of tax is initiated the miners will understand and willingly pay.
Mr. Osasah said the centre have been engaging with critical stakeholders in the mining sector in the state since 2016 noting that the interactive meeting was aimed at receiving feedback on the progress or what have not changed about the project in the state.
He noted that understanding laws and regulations in the governance of the mining sector and gender mainstreaming was important for the rapid development of the sector.
He also said that lack of proper funding was affecting the development of the mining sector in the state and challenged the government to take up their responsibility by offering support to the miners as the business is capital-intensive.
Participants at the workshop commended the government for its intervention in the sector.
Chairperson of Women in Mining, Ebonyi chapter Sylvia Ogbuinya, commended the center for their support in the Ebonyi mining industry, and said that the engagement has lead to more understanding and assisted women to properly suit into the sector.
On her part former head of service in Ebonyi Mrs Ogo Nnachi called for collaboration between CSOs in the state and the local miners to enable them gain voice in the state.
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