By Jude Michael
The Anambra State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Barr Anthony Ifeanya, says that Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s administration is making plans to introduce modern technology in mining practices in the state to encourage global best practices in the mining sector.
The Commissioner disclosed this on Thursday, 6th March, while inaugurating a new Executive Committee, Miners Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter, at Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
Congratulating the members of the committee and others who had worked tirelessly towards bringing the association to fruition, Commissioner Ifeanya described the association as an umbrella body for all miner associations in the state, which, he said, comprised sand miners, burrow pits, quarries and clay miners, among others.
‘We do not just celebrate the establishment of the association in the state, but also lay the foundation for a thriving mining sector that would contribute to the prosperity of our communities and state at large,’ Barr Ifeanya said.
He noted that mining was not merely an economic activity, but also a cornerstone for development that offered potential job creation, infrastructural development and sustainable livelihood for a countless number of individuals and families anywhere in the world.
‘Anambra State is rich in mineral resources and tapping into these resources responsibly will ensure that we harness the wealth of our land while respecting the environment and the rights of our people,’ the Petroleum Commissioner opined.
He assured the Committee of his unwavering support as they embarked on the all-important assignment, pointing out that the State Government was committed to providing the association all necessary framework, policies and guidance to ensure that mining practices in the state were not only productive, but also environmentally responsible and socially equitable.
‘We will work closely with you to ensure the protection of all legal miners, develop training programmes that would enhance their skills, promote the use of modern technology and above all encourage the employment of global best mining practices in the state,’ Ifeanya assured.
While reminding the Committee that there were greater opportunities ahead, he advised them not to shy away from the challenges before them, such as total war against illegal mining activities, environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure and diversion of government revenue, stressing that such practices had posed significant threats to the sector in the state.
Also speaking, his environment counterpart, Engr Felix Odumegwu, pointed out that the environmental condition of the state was very bad, calling for collaboration among ndi-Anambra, especially the leadership of the Miners Association in building a sustainable environment in line with Governor Soludo’s reformation agenda.
In their separate goodwill messages, the pioneer Chairman of the association in the state, Chief Henry Igboeli, the Patron of the association, Sir Chris Mbaegbu, among others, expressed happiness that the association could now boast of one united and formidable leadership in the state and elsewhere in Nigeria for quality representation.
They pledged support to the new committee as they worked towards taking the association to the Promised Land.
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of the Association, Sir Damian Onyekachi, appreciated all who witnessed the inauguration exercise and promised that they would hit the ground running by initiating functional modalities capable of tackling all the challenges mitigating the progress of the association, both in the state and at national levels.
The executive committee has Mr Kennedy Okpala as Vice Chairman; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu, Secretary; Chief Ndubisi Egbogu, Treasurer; Edwin Ukorah, Financial Secretary, among others.
