Former chairman of the special presidential panel on recovery of public property and presidential aide on prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla has alleged that most of the communal crises and violence in many local government areas of the state are sponsored by foreign businessmen who are deep into illegal mining.
In the past five years, foreign elements have reportedly
invaded many parts of the state, alongside alleged militias in very large
numbers where they mined different types of mineral resources in commercial
quantities.
Several times, they have clashed with security forces and
communities, leading to devastations of restricted forests, vast lands,
insecurity and deaths of innocent community indigenes.
As a result of these, the state government placed a ban on
illegal mining, but this has not stopped the exploitation of rare minerals
found in the State.
In a statement, he described those businessmen as ruthless
who fuel inter-communal skirmishes in connivance with traditional rulers and
other powerful individuals.
Obono-Obla, himself a traditional ruler, also accused
certain traditional rulers, especially in Yakurr, Obubra, Akamkpa, Biase, and
Obanliku Local Government Areas, where assorted rare precious stones are found
and illegally mined, of conniving with these foreign interests to exploit the
stones.
Raising alarm over rampant illegal mining in the state,
Obono-Obla said, “Traditional rulers and individuals from these communities are
deeply involved, acting as conduits for foreign interests driving the illicit
business.
“One of the most effective ways to stem this menace, which
is fuelling inter‑communal land disputes and violence, remotely sponsored
by ruthless foreign business interests in collaboration with unscrupulous
actors from within these communities and the Sahelian region of West Africa, is
to establish mining firms in these places by the state government.”
He suggested that indigenes of the affected communities
should be made shareholders.
“These companies can then obtain mining licences from the
Federal Government under the provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007,
thereby granting them the legal authority to explore and manage these mineral
resources,” he said.
According to him, such an approach would foster community
buy‑in,
enhance resource control, and reduce the incentive for illegal mining.
He said establishing mining firms would also align with the
Land Use Act, 1978, which vests all land in the State in the Governor as
trustee for the people, ensuring that mineral exploitation is conducted in a
manner that benefits host communities while maintaining peace and stability.
He was confident that by combining the authority of the Land
Use Act with the regulatory framework of the Minerals and Mining Act, Cross
River State can transform its mineral wealth into a source of prosperity rather
than conflict.
“Empowering communities through legal mining structures not
only curtails illegal operations but also promotes sustainable development,
strengthens local ownership, and ensures compliance with Nigeria’s statutory
framework for land and mineral resource management,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State Government has again expressed deep
worry over the rampant mining activities by entities and their non-compliance
with provisions of Executive Order No. 1 of 2024 issued by His Excellency, the
Governor of Cross River State.
In a statement signed by Linus Obogo, media adviser to
Governor Bassey Otu, he said the persistent disregard by certain individuals,
companies, and entities engaged in mining and quarrying activities must stop.
The statement said that the order was enacted to protect
host communities from insecurity and exploitation, promote responsible and
environmentally conscious mining practices, and ensure that the State
rightfully derives surface rent revenues for the sustainable development of
affected communities.
He said that going forward, the state governor has directed
that all individuals, companies, and entities engaged in mining or quarrying
operations anywhere within the State must, without exception, present
themselves for immediate profiling.
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