By Amarachi Eneji
Traditional rulers representing all 286 villages in Akamkpa Local Government Area have declared their full support for the Cross River State Government’s ongoing effort to profile mining and quarry operations across their communities.
The endorsement came during an interactive session with the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Ntufam Effiom-Ekaha Otu, held recently at the council headquarters.
Speaking on behalf of the paramount ruler, His Royal Majesty Agbor Owai, the deputy paramount ruler, His Royal Highness Ntufam Sunday Ita Archibong, joined other clan heads in praising the commissioner’s initiative and pledging their cooperation to ensure its success.
The royal fathers called for stronger collaboration among the federal and state governments, traditional institutions, and mining companies to safeguard community interests, protect the environment, and generate local employment.
They also raised alarms over the effects of unregulated mining on farmlands, water sources, and community infrastructure, urging the government to hold mining firms accountable to their corporate social responsibility commitments.
The deputy paramount ruler further urged the state government to develop a comprehensive database of mineral resources across Cross River State and ensure that host communities benefit tangibly from mining activities through meaningful development projects.
In response, Commissioner Otu assured the traditional rulers that the administration of Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu remains committed to sustainable mining practices, environmental protection, and improved community relations in the solid minerals sector.
He stressed the need for thorough documentation of mining activities to ensure all operators comply with government policies and contribute to host community development. The profiling exercise, he explained, is designed to identify legitimate operators, curb illegal mining, and promote transparency in the sector.
Otu also appealed to the traditional rulers to support the process by providing local intelligence that would help distinguish genuine operators from illegal actors, calling their role vital to the initiative’s success.
