By Adedapo Adesanya

The Governor of Cross River State, Mr Bassey Otu, has imposed a statewide ban on illegal mining, directing all unlicensed operators to immediately shut down their activities.

The directive followed a strategic meeting with stakeholders in the mining industry, where the governor expressed concern over the growing security and environmental risks associated with unregulated mining operations.

Mr Otu said the ban takes immediate effect and applies to all operators without legitimate approvals from the Federal Government of Nigeria, while those with proper documentation will be allowed to continue their activities.

“This sector is strategic to the economic future of our state,” the governor said. “But instead of bringing prosperity to our communities, it is gradually becoming a source of serious concern. We believe wealth can still be created from mining, but it must be done ethically, legally and with full responsibility.”

He revealed that intelligence reports had shown an increasing influx of unregulated mining operators, including foreign nationals whose identities and operations remain largely unknown to the state authorities.

“I have been receiving reports about the influx of strangers and aliens into our various communities,” Otu said. “The truth is that we do not even know the number of these operators. We must know those who are in our state and what exactly they are doing in our environment.”

The governor also accused some local actors of aiding illegal mining activities.

“Some of the people complicating this situation are unfortunately within our own communities,” he said. “Some clan heads and village heads have become part of the problem by facilitating activities that are not properly regulated.”

Mr Otu revealed that the state government had initially attempted to address the problem through dialogue with federal authorities and security agencies responsible for monitoring mining operations, but noted that progress had been slow.

“I personally initiated discussions with federal authorities and security agencies to strengthen monitoring in the sector,” he said. “There were assurances that rangers would be deployed to assist us, but the process has taken far too long.”

He said the state could no longer wait, adding that the government had now decided to act decisively.

“We have given enough time of grace,” the governor declared. “There comes a point where government must act decisively. That time has now come.”

Announcing the directive, he said all illegal mining activities must stop immediately across the state.

“I am imposing a total ban on illegal mining in this state,” he said. “Let everyone return to their locations. When you are ready to come back, you must first report to the ministry and be properly profiled before any activity resumes.”

Mr Otu stressed that only operators with verifiable federal approvals and proper documentation would be allowed to continue operating.

“Those who have legitimate approvals from the federal government and whose activities are already known to the ministry will not be affected,” he said. “But anybody entering our communities to mine without proper authorisation should understand that those days are over.”

He warned that unregulated mining had begun to threaten public safety and agricultural livelihoods in many communities.

“This situation is affecting our security,” he said. “It is affecting our farmers and creating too many problems for our communities. Cross River is a hospitable state, but there is a limit to what we can continue to manage.”

To enforce the directive, the governor ordered the State Security Adviser to coordinate immediate enforcement operations and directed the Anti-Illegal Mining Task Force to commence round-the-clock surveillance in mining areas.

“There must be 24-hour monitoring to ensure that nobody goes behind the government to continue these activities illegally,” he said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Director of the Nigeria National Single Window (NSW), Mr Tola Fakolade, has assured stakeholders that the platform would not encroach on the statutory revenue-collection functions of agencies operating in the nation’s maritime sector.

Mr Fakolade made the clarification during a sensitisation programme for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos, held ahead of the Phase One launch of the platform scheduled for March 27, 2026, on Monday.

He explained that the National Single Window is designed strictly to facilitate trade and streamline processes among government agencies involved in import and export operations.

“The National Single Window is not taking over revenue collection from agencies. What it will do is facilitate ease of trade by integrating processes and improving transparency across all participating agencies,” Mr Fakolade said.

He further stressed that the initiative is not a tax collection mechanism for the Nigeria Revenue Service but a presidential project aimed at modernising Nigeria’s trade infrastructure.

“The National Single Window is a presidential initiative with a steering committee comprising all relevant government agencies, each duly represented and led by the Presidency.

“Although the project is funded by the Nigeria Revenue Service, its objective is not to compete with any agency but to strengthen collaboration and efficiency,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs Oluyomi Adebakin, underscored the strategic importance of the platform to Nigeria’s global trade competitiveness.

Mrs Adebakin noted that the National Single Window would significantly enhance operational efficiency within Customs while boosting Nigeria’s reputation in international trade.

According to her, digitising and harmonising trade-related procedures will help position Nigeria more favourably in the global trading environment.

“The National Single Window will improve Nigeria’s image in the committee of nations as it relates to trade. It will simplify procedures, reduce delays, and strengthen transparency within the system,” she said.

The sensitisation exercise is part of ongoing efforts by the National Single Window Secretariat to ensure that all government agencies involved in trade operations are fully aligned with the project’s objectives ahead of its full implementation.

Once operational, the National Single Window is expected to integrate multiple government agencies onto a unified digital platform, allowing traders to submit documentation and complete regulatory procedures through a single interface.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange rallied by 1.48 per cent on Monday, March 9, spurred by six price gainers at the close of business.

The sextuplet was led by Nipco Plc, which added N28.00 to trade at N313.00 per unit versus the previous price of N285.00 per unit, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc appreciated by N8.65 to sell for N133.85 per share versus last Friday’s closing value of N125.20 per share, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc increased by N2.43 to N83.78 per unit from N81.35 per unit, Afriland Properties Plc gained 75 Kobo to close at N19.50 per share compared with the previous N18.75 per share, UBN Property Plc jumped by 21 Kobo to close at N2.38 per unit compared with the preceding session’s N2.17 per unit, and Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc rose 5 Kobo to sell at 52 Kobo per share versus 47 Kobo per share.

As a result, the market capitalisation added N37.22 billion to settle at N2.556 trillion versus the preceding session’s N2.519 trillion, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) went up by 62.20 points to 4,273.12 points from 4,201.57 points.

Yesterday, the volume of securities decreased by 67.6 per cent to 1.1 million units from 3.4 million units, the value of securities depleted by 24.3 per cent to N47.3 million from N62.4 million, and the number of deals went down by 18.2 per cent to 36 deals from 44 deals.

The most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis was CSCS Plc with 37.6 million units valued at N2.3 billion, trailed by Okitipupa Plc with 6.3 million units sold for N1.1 billion, and MRS Oil Plc with the sale of 3.4 million units for N506.8 million.

As for the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, it was Resourcery Plc with 1.05 billion units worth N408.7 million, followed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 123.1 million units traded for N481.6 million, and CSCS Plc with 37.6 million units transacted for N2.3 billion.