Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator Ekong Sampson has assured that the Senate will judiciously monitor and oversight the one trillion naira appropriation for the solid minerals sector in the 2025 Federal Government Budget.
Senator Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South, stated this on Tuesday, May 13, during a meeting of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Senator Sampson at the meeting, commended President Bola Tinubu for showing firm commitment to Nigeria’s mineral sector by approving the reviewed budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Solid Minerals, after the initial outlay was widely deemed too paltry to galvanize any meaningful impact.
The Lawmaker noted that the Senate was very keen on the solid minerals sector, which according to him, possessed enormous potential to drive the much needed diversification and strengthen the nation’s economy.
He assured that the Committee will exercise its constitutional mandate of oversight by ensuring that the trillion naira appropriation was well utilized.
Senator Sampson lamented the menace of illegal mining which he attributed to fueling insecurity in the country.
He reiterated that the Committee will continue to tinker and collaborate towards ending the scourge in the sector.
The Meeting also reviewed some of the Committee’s work plan and activities, including recent visit to Plateau State, and a continuation of the nationwide tour to key mining areas and stakeholders in the country. It equally deliberated on pending Bills and Reports before the Committee.
In their separate remarks, members of the Committee reaffirmed their commitment to working for the growth of the sector, expressing confidence that the Committee was on the right track.
They promised continuous cooperation with the leadership of the Committee to enable it achieve its lofty programmes.
Among members in attendance at the meeting were Senator Mustapha Khabeeb (Jigawa South), Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwwal (Sokoto South), Senator Onawo Ogoshi (Nasarawa South), Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South).
Others were Senator Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), Senator Musa Maidoki (Kebbi South), Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), Senator Ibrahim Khalid (Kaduna North), Senator Sunday Marshal Katung (Kaduna South), among others.
