Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called for enhanced participation of state governments in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, emphasising that such inclusion is critical to unlocking the sector’s full economic potential and curbing illegal mining.
Speaking on Tuesday while receiving the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development at the Government House in Enugu, Governor Mbah highlighted the urgent need to decentralise governance in the sector and promote a more collaborative framework between federal and state authorities.
“Our states must be given greater roles in the exploitation and development of solid minerals if we are serious about diversifying the economy,” he said. “The current structure excludes subnational governments from strategic decision-making and has contributed to widespread illegal mining and revenue leakage.”
Mbah also called for the resolution of disputes related to mining rights in various regions and stressed the importance of generating reliable geospatial data to attract investors and improve regulatory oversight.
Responding, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Senator Ekong Sampson, recognised Enugu’s strategic role in Nigeria’s mineral economy and praised the governor for his developmental vision.
He assured the state of the Senate’s commitment to fostering productive partnerships with subnational governments and pledged support for the formulation of legal and regulatory frameworks that align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Senator Sampson noted that effective collaboration between the federal and state governments would accelerate reforms, enhance transparency, and stimulate investments in the solid minerals sector.
