Gov. Bassey Otu.
By Anietie Akpan
Cross River State governor, Bassey Edet Otu, Friday, announced a comprehensive ban on illegal mining across the state following a strategic meeting with critical stakeholders in the sector.
“A lot of money is being made in this sector, but some of it is being used for purposes that the government cannot account for,” the Governor said adding, “We will pursue this matter very seriously. Mining will continue in Cross River, but it must be done properly, responsibly and in the interest of our people”.
The decisive directive, which takes immediate effect, however exempts only operators with legitimate approvals from the Federal Government of Nigeria, as the state government moves to restore order and transparency in an industry increasingly associated with security and environmental concerns.
Speaking during the meeting, Governor Otu said the state could no longer tolerate a situation where a sector with enormous economic potential had gradually become a source of instability and social disruption in several communities.
“This sector is strategic to the economic future of our state,” the Governor said. “But instead of bringing prosperity to our communities, it is gradually becoming a source of serious concern. We believe wealth can still be created from mining, but it must be done ethically, legally and with full responsibility.”
Governor Otu noted that intelligence reports had shown a worrying influx of unregulated operators into mining communities, including foreign nationals whose identities and operational structures were largely unknown to the state.
“I have been receiving reports about the influx of strangers and aliens into our various communities,” he said. “The truth is that we do not even know who many of these operators are. We must know those who are in our state and what exactly they are doing in our environment.”
The Governor also lamented that certain local actors had compounded the problem by aiding and abetting illegal activities in the sector.
“Some of the people complicating this situation are unfortunately within our own communities,” he said. “Some clan heads and village heads have become part of the problem by facilitating activities that are not properly regulated.”
Governor Otu disclosed that the state government had initially attempted to manage the situation through dialogue and collaboration with federal authorities, including security agencies responsible for monitoring mining operations.
“I personally initiated discussions with federal authorities and security agencies to strengthen monitoring in the sector,” he explained. “There were assurances that rangers would be deployed to assist us, but the process has taken far too long, and the few personnel on the ground are clearly insufficient considering the scale of the problem.”
He stressed that after months of patience and observation, it had become clear that the state must take firmer action to protect its communities and natural resources.
“We have given enough time of grace,” the Governor declared. “There comes a point where government must act decisively. That time has now come.”
Announcing the new directive, Governor Otu stated unequivocally that all illegal mining activities must cease immediately across Cross River State.
“I am imposing a total ban on illegal mining in this state,” he said. “Let everyone return to their locations. When you are ready to come back, you must first report to the Ministry and be properly profiled before any activity resumes.”
The Governor emphasized that only operators with verifiable approvals and proper documentation would be allowed to continue operating in the state.
“Those who have legitimate approvals from the Federal Government and whose activities are already known to the ministry will not be affected,” he said. “But anybody entering our communities to mine without proper authorization should understand that those days are over.”
Governor Otu also warned that the government would no longer tolerate uncontrolled mining operations that endanger public safety and agricultural livelihoods.
“This situation is affecting our security,” he said. “It is affecting our farmers and creating too many problems for our communities. Cross River is a hospitable state, but there is a limit to what we can continue to manage.”
To ensure strict compliance with the directive, the Governor ordered the State Security Adviser to immediately coordinate enforcement across the state. “I want the State Security Adviser to take note that this ban comes into force immediately,” the Governor directed. “From tomorrow, people must begin to leave these illegal sites and return to their locations.”
He also mandated the Anti-Illegal Mining Task Force to begin continuous surveillance operations in mining areas to prevent attempts to circumvent the directive. “The task force must commence round-the-clock surveillance,” he ordered. “There must be 24-hour monitoring to ensure that nobody goes behind the government to continue these activities illegally.”
Governor Otu further revealed that the government would soon embark on professional geological mapping of mining zones in order to properly structure the sector and attract responsible investment.
“We are bringing in professionals to carry out proper mapping of our mineral resources,” he said. “Once that is done, those who want to explore or invest legitimately will have the opportunity to present their business cases.”
The Governor assured genuine investors that the state remained open to responsible mining but warned that exploitation of mineral resources must now follow a transparent and regulated framework.
“When we say everyone must come to the ministry for profiling, it is not an opportunity for anyone to extort people,” he clarified. “It is simply about ensuring that we know who is qualified to operate and who is not.”
He concluded by reiterating the state government’s determination to restore sanity to the sector.
