Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, Hon. Speaker, House of Representatives.
By Contributor
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to visit quarries in Ukpom Edem Inyang, Oruk Anam local government, Akwa Ibom State, where deposit of clay is reported.
The House mandated its Committee on Mines and Steel Development to work with the Ministry of Mines and Steel and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency to ascertain if clay deposit reported in the community is in large quantity.
The decision followed a motion brought before it by Mr. Unyime Idem, member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Communications.
Mr. Idem said clay found in Ukpom Edem Inyang is being taken indiscriminately by trespassers instead of being properly harnessed by the government.
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He said exploring the mineral and processing it would add to government’s revenue base and create employment.
The lawmaker noted that clay ranked 699th as the world’s greatest traded goods in 2018 with an aggregate trade of $2.29 billion. A tonne of clay sold for $17 (N6,579.94) in 2019.
The House frowned at the reported case of unauthorised and indiscriminate exploration and exploitation of clay in Ukpom Edem Inyang, which it noted was against the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
The House urged the federal government to be serious with its economic diversification plan especially in the face of instability of crude oil prices.
