The Attorney General of Ebonyi state, Dr. Ben Odoh, Monday said that mineral deposition caused 90 percent of crisis witnessed in the state.

This was as Odoh who is the Commissioner of Justice in the state lamented the readiness of the people to kill over mineral deposits.

Odoh spoke at the grand finale of Tertiary Institution Debate held at the Ministry of Justice, Centenary city, Abakaliki, with the theme: “Mobilizing Collective Efforts for the Actualisation of the People’s Charter of Needs; Mineral Resources as a Catalyst for Peace and Development in Ebonyi state.”

The debate was an interesting ministerial program sponsored by  the Ebonyi state Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Resources Development.

Odoh noted that the essence of the debate was to inculcate into the students, especially the youth, the importance of managing mineral resources without causing disorder, but using it for economic growth.

“The debate is not only to encourage the students in their academic pursuit but to inform them on the need to use the resources as catalyst for peace and development.

“Ebonyi is blessed with mineral resources and if harnessed, we shall be better for economic growth.

“So, what we intend to achieve as part of charter of justice; peace is cardinal and to get peace, you must cultivate justice. When there is no peace, there will be breakdown of law and order.

“We must always remember that, it is cheaper and easier to prevent crisis than to manage it. So, the youth should always  be ambassador of peace,” he added.

Represented by Mr. Jacob Ekuma, HOD monitoring, the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals Resources Development, Mr. Chidi, noted that equitable management of minerals resources could foster peace and unity.

“Such management involves the host community and create jobs for the people,” Chukwu said.

The commissioner listed some of the minerals deposit in Ebonyi to include: Brine (salt), granite, lead ore (galena), sand, limestone, barytes, marble stones, gypsum among others.