Call her a philanthropist, business tycoon of international repute, a die hard advocate of the New Direction administration and grassroots mobiliser, Hajia Hassiat Suleiman has innate capacity to exhibit all these attributes flawlessly. Saddled with the responsibility of managing the most sensitive committees (MIREMCO) in the state, the ever-busy Hassiat in this encounter with ZACCHAEUS OZOVEHE bares her mind on the functions of her committee and achievements recorded so far.
Excerpts:
Can we meet you?
My name is Hajia Hassiat Suleiman, the Chairman of the State Mineral Resources and Environmental Committee which is popularly referred to as MIREMCO. I was born on 7th November into the family of Mallam and Mallama Suleiman Odeh in Obeiba-Ihima in Okehi Local Government Area of the state. I completed both my primary and secondary education before I proceeded to Niger and Ogun States respectively for advance learning. I have served the country through the National Youths Service Corps scheme in Abuja and I decided to remain there. I had a stint in state civil service before I left it all to focus on business.
I am blessed with two lovely kids and my family means everything to me.
What are the mandates of MIREMCO to the people of Kogi State?
MIREMCO was established by the Nigerian Mining and Minerals Act No. 20 of 2007. This committee is constituted to serve as a go-between for the local communities, state and federal government and investors or mining companies.
MIREMCO’s functions summarily involve advising and making recommendations to the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development on issues affecting returns, compensation, pollution and environmental degradation. Most importantly, the committee is to ensure that the indigenes of Kogi State benefit maximally from their God-given resources. As we all know that this state is one of the most bounteous states in the country in terms of natural resources, sadly enough however, the sector has been largely overlooked. We thank God for bringing His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who has vowed that the sector must be reinvigorated in his administration.
What would you describe as the achievement of the committee since inception?
This committee was inaugurated in October, 2017. So, permit me to say that it is still a toddler. Be that as it may, some remarkable milestones have been recorded.
MIREMCO has made itself very accessible to the public and most especially the local communities where the natural resources are deposited and embarked on awareness and sensitisation campaigns on radio and print media. The aim of this move is to make everyone know of the existence and functions of the committee. The public perception of this move has been positive so far just as we have been gathering actionable information.
Also, MIREMCO has succeeded in catalysing successful signing of Community Development Agreement (CDA) between Zuma 828 mining company and its host communities (Okobo/Enjema) in Ankpa Local Government Area of the state. Both parties have been at loggerheads for almost seven years until we intervened and workable CDA has been signed.
MIREMCO is in the process to expedite the signing of another CDA between a gold mining company and its host community in Yagba East Local Government Area. This has been a bone of contention between the management of the company and the community for a very long time. We are hopeful that in the coming months, a workable agreement will be reached.
Could you tell us more about the CDA recently signed through MIREMCO?
Firstly, the lifespan of a Community Development Agreement is five years which parties involved are expected to meet to review the terms of reference. Every CDA is supposed to be explicit and closed, meaning every item and clause in the contract must be explicitly spelt out with a timeline.
The agreement that was submitted by the parties in question now was sketchy and open without definite timeline. This agreement was rejected. Representatives of both parties had to sit down again to iron out issues the issues with MIREMCO in an advisory capacity. The community wanted school buildings, employment in more administrative positions for the indigenes rather than employment as labourers and low level technicians. They equally solicited for better health care facilities, potable water supply, renovation of their Onu’s palace and others.
We thank God that the company has agreed to these terms with specific timeline for completion.
Now, let’s talk about illegal mining in the state.What is MIREMCO doing to tame the tides?
The scourge illegal miners is something all the stakeholders in this sector decry. These illegal miners are basically running the registered mineral title holders out of business. If legal title holders do not work, royalties and taxes would not be remitted to the government. MIREMCO has established channels to reach out to these illegal miners. We do not want to chase them out of the town rather, we need them especially now that the state government is trying to revolutionalise the sector in order to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The illegal miners can change their status by doing the right thing which is to approach the appropriate quarters for registration. They can form a cooperative group, get a license and continue working without fear of persecution or intimidation. This is the dream of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. He is very keen to revamp the sector bearing in mind that the ever dwindling federal allocation need to be augmented for speedy development of the state.
How do you handle recalcitrant illegal miners? Any collaboration with the security agencies?
Of course, the process of moving the mined product falls almost completely under the purview of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police. The Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee is in active collaboration with these agencies to actualise its aims in all ramifications.
Having said that, in as much as the government is diplomatic in discouraging illegal mining activities, any recalcitrant illegal miner caught will not be treated with kid gloves because their activities constitute economic sabotage to the state and country at large.
Advice to host communities of Mineral deposits in the state.
If you observe very well, Governor Bello abhors any act that could constitute a breach to peaceful coexistence. I therefore want to use this medium to appeal to the host communities to be tolerant and law-abiding. They should not take law into their hands. I equally want them to be patient and take advantage of the easy access that MIREMCO has offered. They should not condone any act of illegal mining in their communities as result of financial inducement. If any mining company is operating without a signed CDA, they should follow proper channel to get their voices heard.
I also want to implore the host communities not to make things unnecessarily difficult for investors or mining companies because by and large, their operation is in our interest. It is only when we have mining companies in the state that issue of signing Community Development Agreement could be discussed.
What legacies do you want to leave as the pioneer boss of MIREMCO?
I dream of a totally self subsistent and independent Kogi State where business activities are booming in all the three Senatorial districts. I want to be able to look back and that I was part of the team that laid the building blocks of the megarich Kogi State. I want my name to be synonymous with this boom.
All of these would not have been possible if His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello had not deemed it fit to saddle me with this responsibility. I am committed to making him proud. I want to be able to identify with the New Direction when we finally get to the promise land.
