IGR: Team storm Taraba to explore Mining potentials

As part of efforts to reduce the over-reliance on Federal Allocations and migrating from a mono to a multi-products economy, the Taraba State Government is grabbing the bulls by the horns in terms of diversifying the States income generation drive by efficiently exploring an area where she has a comparative advantage over others. That sector is mining, obviously, due to the plethora of abundant mineral deposits available across the nooks and crannies of the State.

Consequently, the State Government has announced a partnership deal to ensure an effective and efficient exploration activities with the expected arrival of her mining partners from Finland on Sunday. While here, the team will visit key sites with mineral deposits. These include area like Gembu , Bali and Wukari. The team will be recieved by the Permanent Secretary of the Solid minerals Bureau, Mr Matsai David Angye, on Sunday.

Other dignitaries lined up to receive the delegation include; The Attorney General of Taraba State, Yakubu Maikasuwa, The Permanent secretary Taraba State Solid minerals Bureau, Mr David Matsai Angye, Chairman, House Committee on Education, Honorable Josiah Angye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Idris Goje,
Commissioner for Environment.

According to a statement by the State Government which was received by our correspondents on Saturday, this collaboration is part of an existing memorandum of understanding between Taraba State and the city of Oulu in Finland. The main crux of this venture is to collaborate on areas of mutual interests like Education and Mining. Taraba State is an official member of the Mining Finland group, a conglomerate of mining organisations in Finland whose aim is to access credible investors for responsible mining.

Taraba State has always been a vocal advocate of responsible mining within and outside the State. The Government stated that responsible mining in modern terms, refer to mining activities and operations where environmental preservation is paramount. The Government said that indegenes and residents will be actively engaged in all activities. The host communities and State will also get an equitable share of proceeds from their soil .

The team is also expected to visit the Taraba State University where they will be recieved by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunday Paul Bako. This is in furtherance of the conversation on collaboration initiated by the State Governor, His Excellency, Dr Agbu Kefas in Finland when he visited the University of Oulu Mining School in February this year.

Plans have also been concluded for this delegation to lead the Taraba State Solid Minerals Bureau to the European Union meeting to present the State as investment ready, this year. The Minister for Solid Minerals, Dele Alake will also be on ground to recieve the team. This comes at a time when Taraba State is making a strong case for proper licensing of her minerals and raw materials in Abuja.

Consulting firm to the State on Education and Mining, April Benjamin and Dawn Communications Limited also highlighted the relentless behind-the-scenes engagements in the quest to bring Taraba State to international reckoning. These efforts include the building and strengthening of relevant partnerships in key developmental and economic areas like mining.

The Governor restated his State’s commitment to ensure responsible mining and that obviously includes the need to continuously clamp down on illegal miners who surely end up killing people and endangering others.

Chief Executive Officer of April Benjamin and Dawn Communications Limited, the consulting firm to the Taraba State Government on Education, Mining and Special Grants Projects, Adiya Uri Ngozichukwuka said the visit is a culmination of numerous engagements which have been ongoing on for months.

“This visit by the Mining Finlad Team is to specifically foster a proper Mining policy operation and enforcement for the State while opening it up for the emergence of credible international investors. Taraba State is rich beyond measures in solid minerals and indeed ready to take its pride of place as the right mining haven in Africa”, she stated.