The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, has pledged to work with the Cross River State Government to ensure mining activities across the state are standardised and safe.
The Operational Head of the NNRA, Ememobong Essien, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Ntufam Effiom-Ekaha Otu, on Monday in Calabar.
She said the collaboration aims to enhance oversight and safety in the extractive industry, particularly in handling Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials that are often unearthed during mining.
“Our partnership seeks to ensure that mining operations in Cross River adhere to international safety standards, protecting both the environment and the health of host communities,” Essien said.
“Our mandate is to regulate all activities involving ionising radiation, and we will deploy all available resources to enforce safe and standard practices.”
She added that working closely with the State Ministry of Mineral Resources is crucial for identifying and managing radiological risks within the solid minerals sector.
In response, Commissioner Otu assured the federal delegation of the state government’s full cooperation.
He said Governor Bassey Otu’s administration is committed to sanitising the mining sector and prioritises the protection of the environment and local communities from hazardous and unregulated practices.
“I want to assure the federal delegation of our full cooperation because the state government, under Governor Bassey Otu and his People’s First agenda, is firmly committed to sanitising mining operations,” Otu said. “Only authorised operators will be allowed to function in accordance with federal regulations and Cross River State Executive Order No. 1 of 2024.”
He further noted that the state will ensure mandatory profiling of all mining entities to document their operational status, promoting peace and security in the sector.
