Editor
By Fatima Saka
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator Ekong Sampson, has emphasized the importance of oversight in revitalizing Nigeria’s mining industry. Leading a team of committee members, he visited the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Abuja on Monday, signaling the Senate’s commitment to sector reform.
Senator Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, highlighted the committee’s mission as a “high-powered team from the Senate, dedicated to fulfilling our oversight responsibilities.”
He noted that the Senate had taken a two-week recess specifically to focus on this critical assignment, stating, “This visit is a continuation of our mandate to oversee the NMCO, exchange insights, conduct inquiries, and design targeted reforms that will boost private investment in this vital sector.”
He added, “At this critical phase, with national efforts aimed at economic diversification, the mining sector is indispensable. Oversight functions like ours will help uncover opportunities for reform, benefiting the industry and the economy.”
During the committee’s visit to the ministry, Senator Sampson reaffirmed its support for the ministry’s goals and acknowledged the solid minerals sector’s potential to drive Nigeria’s economic development. “Together with the ministry, we are committed to fostering sustainable growth in this essential sector,” he said.
The senator also stressed the need for a robust legal framework to combat illegal mining, which he said “undermines revenue and weakens oversight.” He called for stronger legal measures to create a mining environment free from unauthorized activities. “Addressing illegal operations is crucial for ensuring transparency and accountability in the sector,” he emphasized.
