The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu has urged the National Assembly to review the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 as well as the existing Land Use Act of 1978.
Governor Otu said the review would enable state governments to effectively manage the mineral resources within their domain.
He made the request when he played host to the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals led by the Chairman, Jonathan Gbefwi, who represents Keffi/Karu/Kokona Federal Constituency in Nasarawa State.
The Governor noted that “the provisions of the existing laws as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, grant the Nigerian government exclusive control over natural resources.”
According to him, “the 10th Assembly needs to include the Mining Act and Land Use Law on the list of laws for review to enable States like Cross River generate revenue from exploration and exploitation.”
Governor Otu said; “without any fear of equivocation, Cross River State is one of the solid mineral hubs in Nigeria,” stressing that commercial quantities of limestone, granite, gold, uranium, barite, iron ore, kaolin, manganese and other minerals abound.
He stated that the exploration of the available solid minerals would positively enhance the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Cross River if such were on the residual list.
“For now, this is a dream that is yet to come true. Herein lies the albatross of solid minerals development in States, including Cross River State,” the Governor said
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