Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for greater involvement of state governments in the exploration and exploitation of Nigeria’s solid minerals, highlighting the sector’s untapped potential in driving economic diversification and development.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, who paid him a working visit at Government House, Enugu, the governor emphasized that increased state participation would unlock economic value and curb the persistent problem of illegal mining.
He described the committee’s work as critical, given the strategic importance of solid minerals in the nation’s economic transformation agenda.
Mbah noted that a significant number of mineral-rich assets remain underutilized or are being exploited illegally, resulting in substantial revenue losses for the country. He urged the federal lawmakers to ensure reforms that would empower sub-national governments to contribute meaningfully to the sector’s growth.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Senator Ekong Sampson, acknowledged Enugu State’s strategic importance within Nigeria’s minerals landscape and reiterated the committee’s commitment to a more productive and inclusive minerals sector.
