The Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development has stressed the importance of intergovernmental collaboration, asserting that no single state can successfully develop the vast solid minerals sector without partnering with the Federal Government.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ekong Sampson, made this assertion during separate courtesy visits to the Governors of Enugu and Ebonyi states as part of the committee’s oversight tour of mining sites across the South-East.
Speaking in Enugu after meeting Governor Peter Mbah, Sampson stated, “No level of government can go it alone if we are to harness the full potential of mining in this country.
“There must be a winning synergy between the federal, state, and local governments.”
He added that the committee’s visits to mining sites are aimed at assessing the sector and gathering actionable insights to guide national mining policies.
“This sector holds the key to diversifying Nigeria’s economy beyond oil, and the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is placing solid minerals at the forefront of that strategy,” he said, noting the N1 trillion earmarked in the 2025 budget for the sector.
The oversight visit also included key senators such as Vice Chairman Senator Kabeeb Mustapha; Deputy Majority Whip Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi; Senator Anthony Ani; Senator Kelvin Chukwu; Senator Diket Plang; and Senator Okechukwu Ezea.
In his remarks, Mbah backed the committee’s vision, stating, “Nigeria is sitting on untapped wealth. Solid minerals hold immense potential for economic diversification, and the ongoing review of the Mining Act must ensure greater state inclusion and participation.”
He cited poor data quality and limited access to accurate geological information as key barriers to investment in the sector.
“If we define responsibilities clearly and improve access to reliable data, we can attract large-scale investors,” Mbah said.
Earlier, while receiving the committee in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Patricia Obila, who stood in for Governor Francis Nwifuru, also called for stronger collaboration with the Federal Government.
“We are determined to form a solid partnership. Ebonyi has vast untapped mineral deposits, and proper collaboration will not only boost our IGR but also ensure the benefits trickle down to all Nigerians,” Obila noted.
She emphasised the importance of responsible mining practices and pledged the state’s commitment to working with the Senate and federal authorities to maximise the sector’s potential.
Sampson reaffirmed the committee’s readiness to facilitate such partnerships, emphasising that only a united approach can unlock the true economic benefits of Nigeria’s solid mineral wealth.
