The Kogi State Government has asked for 50% derivation from solid minerals located and explored in the State as against 13% earmarked for solid minerals producing States.
Yomi Awoniyi, Kogi State Deputy Governor made the appeal when he received the Federal Government Committee on solid minerals post mortem committee in his office.
The Deputy Governor who received the Presidential Committee on behalf of Capt. Idris Wada, the Kogi State Governor,said the appeal has become necessary because of the concentration of Solid minerals located in the state.
The State Deputy Governor lamented a situation where the State with 29 out of the 35 solid minerals deposits found in the country, earns little or nothing also frowned at a situation where communities in the state are at the receiving end as a result of solid minerals exploration.
Awoniyi described the committee’s visit to the state as hope rising and signs of better things to come,urged them to carry out their assignment with diligence.
The Deputy Governor pointed out that the Wada administration is presently paying attention to the development of its solid minerals as an alternative to over reliance on dwindling oil revenue. Whatever money the state derives in the course of its solid mineral exploration Awoniyi disclosed will be ploughed back to the development of the industry and development of the communities.
The Deputy Governor, urged the Post Mortem committee to ensure that the State gets its right measure of solid minerals it produces adding that the work of the committee could not have come at a better time.
The Deputy Governor equally assured that the State is willing to partner with those in the mining industry through the provision of machinery and other working tools to ensure that the state derives maximum benefit of solid minerals found in the State.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser Special Duties to the Kogi State Governor who also oversee’s solid minerals in the state, Commodore Onekutu (rtd) called on the Federal Government to regulate the issuance of mining licenses to only genuine miners, adding that rather than making solid minerals exploration an issue on the exclusive list, State Government he appealed, should be involved in deciding who is granted approval to carry out exploration. This he added will enable the State know who the miners are, monitor their activities, ascertain their community involvement, determine their level of corporate social responsibility and whether environmental impact assessment was strictly observed and carried out by the explorers .
Earlier in his remarks, Rev. Ajibola Fagboyegun, team leader of the post-mortem committee, said recent discoveries showed that revenue accruing from sold minerals do not go to the respective states.
He said the committee’s visit to Kogi State was to ascertain what should be due to Kogi State in terms of derivation from monies already saved from previous sales and to determine whether the actual amount is been remitted into the federation account.
Their visit to the state he also added will amongst others, establish a template that will henceforth monitor inflow of monies derived from sold minerals. He urged states to pay more attention on mineral resources in their states, adding that if well harnessed, Kogi State will stand tall in revenue indices in the country.
The team leader said their mission which will include visit to mining sites and the end users, described Kogi State as largely blessed with untapped solid minerals.
Fagboyegun urged Kogi State Government to invest in its numerous solid minerals as revenues from oil he noted is no longer reliable.
While appealing to the State to look inward and diversify its economy from oil, said efforts will be made for the State to share from revenue that has so far accrued to the State from solid minerals exploration.
