The Akwa Ibom State government has been urged to establish a regulatory agency to oversee the mining activities of artisanal miners in the state.

According to a mining expert Engineer, PIUS EBONG, who appeared on Talk Radio with Adebayo Samuel, an Inspiration FM’s News and Current Affairs Programme, the state’s solid mineral resources, including silicon clay, limestone, lignite, and kaolin, remain largely under-explored and underutilized.

EBONG decried the situation where foreigners engage in illegal mining in the state and other parts of the country, attributing this to the indifference of the local population and the government.

He emphasized the need for the government’s policy trust to focus on solid mineral exploration, which could generate revenue and create employment opportunities for the local population.

EBONG argued that the establishment of a regulatory agency would help to ensure that mining activities are conducted in a responsible and sustainable manner.

The call for a regulatory agency comes as the state government seeks to diversify its economy and tap into the potential of its natural resources under Governor UMO ENO’S ARISE Agenda.