Ordinarily, one wouldn't dissipate energy responding to inanities but for the principle that when lies are pushed too far and unchallenged, they begin to wear the toga of truth or popular opinion.

On the surface, it appears the writer was venturing into a familiar terrain but he unfortunately failed to manage his ignorance on the operation of cadastral and processes involved. The only explanation would be that he was blinded by frustrations leading to unsubstantiated outbursts. At best, the material which appears shallow depicts the lack of depth of the writer.

He touched on conferences where he claimed that experts like him were not given the opportunity to either contribute or vent, but from his position, it would be very difficult for him to confidently take the floor in a gathering of experts well versed in the field.

As one who has never missed any of the gatherings on solid minerals discussion, I was taken back by that claim because ample time has always been given for people to opine on best foot forward and how to make the sector play its sterling role to the economy. More concerning is the fact that in each of the workshops or conferences, participants and members of the press are always given priority attention so that the forum is always so saturated that people are begged to bring forward their views. The only conclusion here is that Surajo's assertions are figments of his imagination.

For the writer to claim that workshops never yeilded anything as only the officials speak in such gatherings beggars belief. Interrogating such false claim will further prove the absurdity of it. If nothing comes out from reform meets, then how come the Solid minerals sector has gone through so much reforms that it's activities match international best practices? If no way forward is being chatted from the jaw jaws round the globe, how come there is sudden influx of investors in the sector if not for the efficacy of its reform ideals? So many questions for Surajo.

That said, in the era of strong anti-corruption drive where the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissioner, EFCC are so prompt with investigations, one wonders why no staff or executive of the Solid Minerals Cadastral office has been indicted or the person leveling these unfounded allegations has never reported any of them.

If what his article portrays is right, it will mean that Surajo has in one way or the other worked with the office to claim that Native authority clearances are forged and if so by the staff of the office. I hope that the writer is not using a pseudo name because the simple fact in law is that he that asserts must prove, so that Surajo can be held accountable by his assertion to avoid people deliberately Peddling lies to pull down institutions they may have failed to exploit. His allegations are weighty and have to be proved and if found false, those responsible for venting their deserved frustration due to their mediocrity would have their recompense under the law.

On alleged reallocation of cadastral while titles are pending, that, as all the allegations fly in the face of reality. When one applies for cadastral, after meeting all the conditions, before access is granted, there is usually public notice which is published both in the offices of Solid minerals and other boards for 28 days so that whoever has any objection can notify the office. Pray, how possible will it be for a pending allocation be given to another person under such stringent conditions? As is wont Surajo, he glossed over that and continued to allege the practice of the impossible.

There is Servicom desk in the office which holds the feet of officials to the fire and the simple question is how many times has Surajo incidented any frustration so much so that he claims documents are only processed after greasing of palms. Has he ever bribes any official to get any due approval or is he peddling his preference for cutting corners? Well, since there is no absolute sector without its bad eggs, maybe Surajo sought his ilks and with them cut corners in the office which the Digital system won't take long to detect.

I think Surajo has to have time with security agencies so he can assist them on his assertion that the office contributes to insecurity. The simple question is how? They rather have been making arrests and ensuring that any extractive company keeps to international standards while those who illegally access sites or exploit the country's resources are daily populating the prisons as they are facing punishments. The advancement in the sector puts a lie to Surajo's ill-timed hatchet job. He should try again as his efforts have so far failed.

Bamidele is a publisher at mining and exploration media