Sometimes last years, a two day public hearing was organized by the Senate committee on solid mineral, mines, steel development and metallurgy in Nigeria. It was all about cry for investigation on the loss of whooping $9billion annually due to illegal mining and smuggling of gold. Several other agencies were present at this meeting. Aside the investigation of the money loss, Nigeria mineral development commission and establishment bill 2021, solid mineral producing areas development commission establishment bill 2021, institute of bitumen management establishment bill 2021, and explosive act 1964 repeal and re-enactment bill 2021 were among subjects of discussion.
In the view of bring a long lasting solution to this problem, the honourable minister Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogar urges the legislatures to authorize the EFCC or the POLICE to investigate the loss of $9billiin annual due to illegal mining and smuggling of gold.
He further explains common problems the ministry (MMSD)is facing such:
1. Low level manpower.
2. Low level technology for the ministry
Now I appreciate the polical word used "low level" of a particular need at least it shows that the facilities are there but very low. My question is ......are there really facilities? Low level of man power got me thinking that ....are there no people that wants to work in Nigeria? These are some of the common question I find it very difficult to answer.
Please sir, I want to believe there are still hard working Nigerians. If there are really needs to recruit for manpower in the ministry (MMSD). And these things we call technology is really arcade and should be really improved on if we want something tangible to happen in the ministry.
The university that was suppose to be the fountain of knowledge where training was suppose to come, what are we doing to the institutions of learning to improve and produce better engineers. I hope during the training if there would be any....foreigners would not be contacted...or call in selected few for training abroad. Food for though
He further recommended these
1. Funding of the ministry
2. Provision of the adequate logistics
3. Training of Mining Engineers
4. Resuscitating of the revenue generation committee of the ministry.
5. Implenentation of the government policies on mining, the use of remote sensing system
6. Collaboration with host communities
7. Creation of mining desk in FIRS
8. Mines police and enactment of stringent laws for illegal mining.
This is my stake. I think we are repeating things here these are among policies that has been waiting for years and nothing has been done on them. Administrations come and go they are still there. I just hope a serious measure would be taken this time around.
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