by JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU
Calabar – The inability of state Governors to exploit mineral resources in their various states has been attributed to the constitutional inhibition that allows only the Federal Government to exploit solid minerals in the country.

Consequently, Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, has called on the National Assembly to urgently address this problem by reviewing the constitution and removing the development of solid minerals from the exclusive list and put it under concurrent list for the good of the people.

Governor Imoke, who said the nation is blessed with abundant solid minerals scattered in most parts of the country, regretted that such minerals are lying fallow without development because the constitution only gives the Federal Government the right to legislate on such important sector of economy.

The governor, who fielded questions on why the state government had not developed some of the mineral deposits scattered in large quantities in all parts of the state during a media parley, Sunday, said: “We have huge natural resources that we have no control over”.

He said that even at the quarry in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state where there is large deposit of limestone it is being used by the United Cement Company, UNICEM,and the state does not derive any income.

Imoke said if the constitution was reviewed and it allowed various state governments to develop solid minerals in their areas, it would be for the advantage of the masses as each state government would strive to bring investors to develop such mineral resources which would not only generate resources to the state, but create employment for the people.

While answering questions on the situation of things at the premier Tinapa Business Resort and Leisure, the court case instituted by the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, one of the financiers of the Tinapa project over the N9 billion debt owed the bank and the request to wind the business outfit up, Imoke said Union Bank was one of the financial institutions that made investment in Tinapa.