Tracereporters –The Arewa Citizens Watch for Good Governance wishes to retract its
earlier call for either resignation or the sacking of Dr. Obadiah Simon Nkom over the activities of illegal miners which have heightened the incidences of insecurity in the solid minerals-endowed Northern part of Nigeria.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Comrade Mohammed Grema Adamu, Chairman, Arewa Citizens Watch for Good Governance and made available to Tracereporters, saying that the call was made out of genuine concerns for the security of lives and property of our people and also, the socio-economic well-being of our country.
According to the statement, “We are however, now better educated on who plays what role(s) in the sector
We understand that there is a Mines Surveillance Task Force under the
Mines Inspectorate in the Ministry (not Mining Cadastre Office) that is saddled with the responsibility of tackling issues of illegal mining and compliance by those with legal licenses to mine/explore.
“And that it is the responsibility of the Mines Inspectorate/Task Force to ensure zero illegal activities in the sector.
“The Mines Surveillance Task Force has security Agents eg NSCDC etc.
Engr. Nkom records a breaking revenue generation of over N8.9 billion
to the Federal Government, the highest in the history of the agency,
“Accounting for 86% increase, 50% of the contribution of the Ministry of
Mines and Steel Development to the economy is noted and appreciated.
“It is also on his credit that the Digitalization of all the office’s activities to migration to an online platform called eMC+(launched by the President
of Federal Republic of Nigeria represented by the Vice President on 1st Nov 2022 for transparency and efficient service delivery to the public, an innovation that is a testimony of naming the Agency in April 2022 as the best Agency of the Federal Government in the category of Digital
Innovation Awards for the year 2022 by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA).
“We are therefore calling on the Ministry/Mines Surveillance Task Force to rise up anew and ensure that all activities are carried out in compliance with the law. This is not only important for revenue generation but also
for the security of the nation.
“Whatever embarrassment caused by our previous call against the person of Engr. O. S. Nkom/Director-General(MCO) and the Mining Cadastre Office is regretted and was made without malice but out of genuine concern for the wellbeingof our Arewa community.
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