Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has announced the suspension of all mining activities in the state until proper data of miners is collated. The governor made this declaration during the launch of the initial 60 Mining Marshalls tasked with preventing illegal mining of solid minerals across the state.
Represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, Governor Alia emphasized the importance of suspending mining activities until the verification exercise is completed by the Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee. He stressed the need for accurate data collection of all miners in the state before allowing mining to resume.
The governor warned that his administration would not tolerate any illegality and affirmed its commitment to protecting the lives and property of the people. He urged the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to intensify efforts in combating crimes related to the state’s rich mineral resources.
Governor Alia highlighted the challenges facing development in Benue State, emphasizing the need for visionary leadership to leverage abundant talents and manage limited resources for the transformation of the state. He reaffirmed his commitment to harnessing untapped natural resources while maintaining existing structures.