Minister of State for Mines and Steel Dr Uche Ogah has pledged to work with the Abia State Governor,Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu to ensure that the state gets its fair share from the Federal Government.
Dr Ogah who made this known,Friday, when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at Government House Umuahia,noted that the time for politics is over hence all hands should be on deck to work for the growth and development of the state.
In his words, “Politics is over,now is time for governance. I am a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Abia State at the Federal Executive Council and I have the mandate to always state out issues that will help develop the state do the interest of our people so I think we should all work together as a team for us to develop the state.
“If there are areas the Federal government needs to come in to help the state,I believe I have the capacity to reach out as the Minister of state for Mines and Steel so that the interest of the state will be protected.
“I believe as a minister who is always at the Federal Executive Council Meeting,there are so many things we can attract to the state so I deemed it necessary to pay this courtesy visit so that we can share ideas on ways to move the state forward”.
While assuring that his ministry will work towards,tackling erosion menance and illegal mining activities in the state,Ogah
called for collaboration with Governors of the South East Zone to tackle mining devastation issues as well as stop illegal mining activities in the zone.
Governor Ikpeazu in his response said he expects greater synergy between the state government and the ministry of mines and steel development for the benefit of Abians.
The Governor who regretted that the activities of illegal miners is negatively affecting the state, attributed it to the issuance of mining licence by the federal government without recourse to the state government.
On the devastating menace of erosion in parts of the state,Governor Ikpeazu disclosed that about 25% of land belonging to the state has been
eaten up by erosion adding that through the intervention of the NEWMAP, three(3)critical
erosion sites have been reclaimed.
He also noted that the Isuikwuato erosion menace requires urgent attention of the federal government and expressed confidence in the ability of the minister to attract Federal Government intervention in addition to representing the state well at the federal executive council.
