The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to partner with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and the Cross River State Government to regulate and clean up mining activities across communities in the state.
This was made known by the NNRA’s Operational Head, Ememobong Essien, during a courtesy visit to the Cross River State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Effiom-Ekaha Otu, in Calabar.
Essien explained that the move is aimed at improving safety standards and strengthening oversight within the extractive sector. She noted that the collaboration would focus on monitoring mining operations, especially the handling of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM), which are often uncovered during mineral exploration and can pose health risks if not properly managed.
According to her, the partnership is designed to ensure that mining activities in Cross River meet international safety standards, while protecting both the environment and host communities.
“Our mandate is to regulate all activities involving ionising radiation. We will deploy all available resources to ensure strict compliance with safety standards, and we seek the Commissioner’s cooperation to meet global benchmarks,” she said.
Essien also stressed the importance of working closely with the state’s Ministry of Mineral Resources to properly identify and manage radiological risks in the mining sector.
In his response, Otu reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to sanitising mining operations, noting that the administration of Governor Bassey Otu is focused on protecting the environment and residents from harmful and unregulated practices.
He assured the federal delegation of full cooperation, adding that the state is prioritising the proper documentation and profiling of all mining operators to ensure accountability and security within the sector.
Otu further emphasised that only authorised operators would be allowed to operate, in line with federal regulations and the state’s Executive Order No. 1 of 2024.
