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Tag: miners

  • Miners rescue six-month-pregnant woman from rapists

    Miners rescue six-month-pregnant woman from rapists

    Attempt by some notorious herdsmen to rape a six-month-pregnant woman was frustrated by a group of local miners in Jol community, Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State yesterday.

    It was learnt that the pregnant woman (name withheld) was on her way home from Rotchu (Rafin-Acha) to Tarai Hamlet at about 3:45 pm when some hoodlums suspected to be herdsmen attacked her.

    The National President, Berom Youth Movement (BYM), Barrister Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, who confirmed the incident in a statement said: “Information reaching out has it that two Fulani assaulted and attempted raping Mrs Esther Zakka of Tarai Hamlet, Jol Community of Riyom LGA at about 2:00pm this afternoon, 14th June, 2024.

    “According to a local source, a six-month-pregnant woman, Mrs Esther Zakka, was on her way home from Rotchu (Rafin-Acha) to Tarai Hamlet after retiring from work.

    “Unfortunately for her, two Fulani violently accosted and hit her laps to weaken her resistance to the criminal assault and attempted rape.

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    “The source further disclosed that one of the suspects forced himself on her pregnancy while another held her neck, defying repeated plea.

    “In the ensuing struggle, she became weak and couldn’t help herself except scream, which attracted the attention of miners who came to her rescue and arrested one of the suspects, who is currently with Operation Rainbow Unit in Jol.

    “It was also gathered that the security agents have rushed her to the hospital for medical treatment.”

    Efforts made to reach the spokesman of Operation Save Haven (OPSH), Major Samson Khazom, were unsuccessful.

  • Fed Govt seeks payment of N2tr debt by miners

    Fed Govt seeks payment of N2tr debt by miners

    The Federal Government has called on licensed miners to pay N2 trillion they owe over the years for mining across the country 

    It also advised miners against mobilising to sites after obtaining licences to avoid sanctions.

    Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake, who made the call, also

    cautioned state governments against collecting royalties for mining activities.

    Alake spoke during a meeting with licensed miners,  laterite and sand dealers in Kaduna,  Kaduna State yesterday. Alake was represented at the parley by the Acting Zonal Mines Officer, Northwest Zonal Office of the ministry,  Kutman   Ali.

    The minister also restated his vow to ensure that anyone caught engaging in illegal mining would be sanctioned. 

    Alake  said: At the national level, miners, operators and license holders owe the Federal Government taxes amounting to almost N2 trillion

    “And for Kaduna State, when we quantified it, it was realised that miners are owing the government over N300 billion. The amount was accumulated over the years.

     “We have made it very clear to the operators to clear the debt. Operators are also reminded that payment of royalty is monthly.”

    He called on miners to, on collection of their licences,   first report to the state office of the ministry for site mobilising permits.

     “After collecting a license, you must come to our office so that you will be given what we call permit mobilising site, a letter that will introduce you to the local government, communities and even to the chiefs so that the mining activities will be easy for you,” Alake added.

    He said the meeting was to inform the participants of the importance of mining to the   Bola  Tinubu administration.

    Alake added: “Immediately after a new cabinet was inaugurated, the President   directed the immediate revitalisation and resuscitation of Special Mines Surveillance Taskforce which is a taskforce that was purposely created to control illegal mining and non-payment of royalties and other taxes  to the government of Nigeria

    “The task force is made up of members from the Nigeria Army, Police, Civil Defence Corp, Department of State Security Services, EFCC(Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Nigeria Immigration. 

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    “The team which  is headed by mine  officers in the states has been activated in Kaduna State and  the members  commenced operation on the war against illegal mining and non-payment of royalty as well as other taxes to the government of Nigeria.”

     He told miners that the Federal Executive Council had at one of its meetings last year, approved that any state government or local government that collected royalty or mineral tax from miners would have the exact amount deducted from its share from the Federation account.

    “Mining companies are therefore advised to note that if they are being coerced to pay by states or local governments,  they should write the nearest mines office so that we can put it down and draw the attention of such state government or local government,”  Alake said.

    The minister, who reiterated that mining is controlled by the Federal Government, said that states and local governments  “are entitled to collect other taxes like PAYE(pay as you earn), grand rent and other taxes that are dues to them, but not royalties and mining taxes.

    Chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Kaduna branch, Ado Dogo described the meeting as important.

    Dogo, who was represented by the Secretary of the association,   Kashim   Hussaini, reeled out the challenges faced by miners across the country.  

    He said that governors whom he accused of  “seriously interfering with our activities,’’ must respect the laws guiding mining activities.  

    “We as miners know.  We are operating within a state, local government and even down to villages but sometimes, state governors   stop us from working, “ Dogo alleged.

  • Declare state of emergency against illegal miners, Reps tell FG

    Declare state of emergency against illegal miners, Reps tell FG

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday, November 8, asked the federal government to declare a state of emergency against illegal mining in the country.

    The House also asked the Federal Government to constitute a special security task force comprising the military, Department of State Security Services (DSS), Immigration, Civil Defence, and the Nigeria Police Force to embark on a sweeping exercise to flush out all illegal miners.

    Adopting a motion on notice sponsored by the deputy leader of the House, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi Halims, the House said the government to make a special intervention in the 2024 budget estimates to provide for the establishment of Mineral Monitoring and Inspection Offices equipped with qualified manpower and equipment/infrastructure in the 109 senatorial districts of the country.

    Halims reminded the House of the significant economic potential of Nigeria’s Solid Mineral Sector in contributing to the country’s development and expansion of its revenue base.

    He said the nation was blessed with a vast mineral resources in Nigeria that are largely untapped and underutilized, which can play a critical role in diversifying the economy, creating jobs, and boosting revenue generation.

    He said there was the urgent need for focused intervention and radical measures to address the issues affecting the solid minerals sector and its underperformance, as indicated in the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2022 report.

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    He said the NEITI report put the solid mineral sector’s contributio to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, at 0.63 per cent, or N1.10 trillion, and contribution to government revenue, at 2.62 per cent of the government’s N6.63 trillion total revenue

    He expressed concerned about the current challenges bedevilling the solid mineral sector because of illegal mining activities and acknowledging its detrimental impact on the environment, national security, and economic growth.

    He said the country was losing huge revenue from unregulated and illicit mining operations, costing the government $9 billion annually with only 3 per cent royalties paid by a few licensed miners, hindering the country’s mineral resource utilization.

    Halims also expressed concern about the negative impacts of illegal mining, which have led to insecurity and conflicts over control of mining sites and their resources and escalated into violence, thus exacerbating existing political and social tensions in the affected communities.

    He said due to the increased prevalence of illegal mining and other criminal activities affecting host communities, the governors of Taraba, Benue, and Nasarawa States have signed Executive Orders banning illegal mining to protect host communities and regulate mining activities in their states.

    He said there was an urgent need for the Federal Government to swiftly and decisively address the revitalisation and development of this critical sector for the benefit of the Nigerian economy and its citizens.

  • ‘Why bandits, kidnappers, illegal miners are biggest threats to solid mineral sector’

    ‘Why bandits, kidnappers, illegal miners are biggest threats to solid mineral sector’

    The quest by the federal government to diversify national economy through exploration of solid mineral resources is becoming a mirage as bandits have taken over the mining sites. A miner, Daniel John Baraya, spoke with Kolade Adeyemi in Jos about the activities of saboteurs in the sector. 

    AS a miner, do you think the federal government is serious about its avowed plan to exploit solid minerals as alternative to crude oil?

    The federal government is serious, but there are lots of problems sabotaging government policy on economic diversification. Indeed, government has a realisable dream, but they need to go the extra mile to bring that dream into reality.

    What exactly does it need to do?

    One is in the area of security and amendment of the Act on mining. In all the sectors of the national economy, it is mining that suffers the most because it is not done in cities but inside the bush, and the base of bandits is in the forest just like farming, especially in the 19 northern states. Bandits stay in the bush, and our business is also in the bush. So we found that we lost a lot of people who needed to go there for their daily income but fell victim to the activities of bandits. These bandits have grown so strong and formidable that they are now demanding and collecting royalties and basically exploiting legitimate mining companies. It is either you pay or you will not operate. So most people just quietly leave, and the bandits take over the sites. Now, lots of mining sites have been fully occupied by bandits. So, the government really needs to do something about that so that you can go into the bush, do your business and come back safely.

    The most pernicious part of it is that they brought kidnapping into the whole mix. If by chance they catch anybody and realise that the person is a miner, they feel that they have hit a goldmine. If that avenue is locked up because of insecurity, it means that investment is gone. So, if the government is serious about it and they want investment in the sector, they have to do something about it.

    The second issue sabotaging government interest in solid mineral is illegal mining. Illegal mining obviously disturbs both the government and even the operators. You spend a lot of money securing the site during exploration, prospecting and identifying a mineral. The moment you get to a point where you are supposed to actually start enjoying the benefits, illegal miners will flood into the place, sometimes with the backing of the traditional rulers. Now you find it challenging to actually evict them because you cannot muster the kind of resources required to get the law enforcement people into the place. And even if you do, some of those places are very challenging by nature. Mining is not done in cities but in the bushes, so you can’t say you are going to the police station to report. How many police people will follow you into the bush? So we are hoping that the government will really look seriously into the issue of illegal mining and make sure that at least there are mechanisms in place to make sure that it does not even happen in the first place.

    The third issue is that of Minerals and Mining Act of 2007. That Act needs to be reviewed if the federal government is to realise her dream in economic diversification through mining. Our experiences as miners have shown that the provisions of that Act are not enough with the modern realities on the ground. The Act is not capturing the actual operational problems that we are facing. I will give you an example. You can go to a place and identify a mineral and you are expected to start exploration. Now, when you do that, you’re supposed to go and file an application with the ministry. But before they give you any licence, they will expect you to go to the community and obtain their consent; which is good. Now, the problem with that is who is in the community? Sometimes there is a landowner who farms on the land or does activities on the land. It is his land. Maybe through history and tradition, it becomes his land. And then there are traditional rulers.

    Now, there is always a problem. If you collect the consent of that land owner and take it to the ministry tomorrow, somebody will come up and say he is the paramount ruler in the community; he has not given you any consent. And the law, as it states, is that you seek consent from the landowners. Now, on the basis of the paramount rulers’ complaint, your licence gets revoked, and the law does not recognise that. So, what we are saying is that one of the key areas that they can help us with is clarifying this point and making it okay. If we are going to seek consent from the community, from whom, and which one will protect our interests? If they say we are to work with the traditional institutions, fine. That means nobody can come tomorrow and say, I’m a landowner, it’s my father’s land, and I did not give you consent.

    If they also say we should work with the landowners, fine. We will work with that. Nobody would come and write a petition tomorrow and say I am the chief, so I should have a say in the matter. Once that is clarified, it helps and makes it easier. Also, we know what we are doing. And the ministry should take a very strong stand to make sure that this issue is clearly spelt out for the operators to understand so that our business can move forward.

    Having identified the challenges, what do you think is the way out?

    One, the federal government needs to get more serious with her dream on the solid mineral sector. It is not just enough to issue mining licence; the federal government should be more interested if the miners are on site. And if the miners are not on site, find out the problems and address them. Does government need to come to the aid of the miners? There are enough to mine in this country. We have only been scratching the surface so far, and we have been doing that mostly without government support. Now that the government has decided to come in and support us, it’s a good thing. It’s a welcome development. Our only prayer is that they will touch those areas that are really the main choke points that are disturbing the industry. The pronouncements so far that the government has been making are very encouraging. And the area we hope that they will focus on is number one: the regulatory environment. That is the main problem holding this industry back.

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    Is it true that state governments are also frustrating activities of miners in their various states?

    In some states, there is controversy over who controls mining between the state and the federal governments, and this is somehow unhealthy for the development of the industry. And that was why I talked about the mining Act. The confusion between the role of the federal government and the role of the state governments is a source of concern to most of us in the industry. This current Act has not addressed that.

    Now, you are all aware that some state governors have taken it upon themselves to ban mining in their states, which, to the best of our knowledge, is on the exclusive list of the federal government. They have no business doing any of that. But they are doing it and so far, nothing has been done to stop it or to challenge it. So, it confuses everybody in the industry. We are here, we know that we identify these minerals, we go to the ministry to apply, and they give us a licence. We wake up one day and discover that our investment in billions is being put on hold, banned or challenged by the state government.

    If government is considering changing the laws to allow participation by the state government, what is expected is that they will give us some advanced information so that in our planning we will take into consideration the effect of state government participation. But that is not the case; you will find out about a project that has been going on for years, and one day somebody will wake up and make a pronouncement, saying I’ve banned mining activity within my domain for some reasons.

    For the industry to move forward there has to be a strong action on the part of the federal government. They either involve the state governments and work together with them, and let us know that now that things have changed, we have to work with the state government, or they will clarify these things as clearly as possible to all the players so that we know who we are dealing with.

    The industry is no doubt capital-intensive. What do you think government can do to motivate investors in this regard?

     I told you that we have barely scratched the surface in Nigeria. Mining, as an industry, is a very big part of the economy of Nigeria, not because we don’t have the resources. The resources are there. We are blessed with mineral resources. Every state you can count on in this country has abundant mineral sources on the ground. Now, the challenge is that you need certain steps to move it from where it is on the ground to where it is useful.

    For instance, you say there is copper here. How do you prove it to that person? For instance, I see some signs that tell me there is copper, and I come to you. I want you to help me so that we can explore these resources. Well, how do I prove it to you? You see those other countries that have developed their industry, they have an entire value chain built around supporting this industry. We have people who are specialists in drilling a particular type of rock; we have specialists who have skills in aero magnetic service; and we have people who are skilled in interpreting data. Once you collect the data, you have specialists, and you have specialist labs. Now, if you pick a sample, to get an accurate and recognised sample that is ISO recognised, you have to send it to South Africa and other places. We don’t have that in Nigeria.

    So, one of the critical things that we have to do is get our industry to the level of South Africa, Australia, and Canada in terms of infrastructure. I am talking about assay labs, building the manpower and the skill level that are required in our geologists and mining engineers to be able to come up with reports that you can take outside of this country, and they will agree.

    If the mining sector is properly positioned in Nigeria, how much do you think it can fetch Nigeria in terms of revenue?

    Well, I give you an example of Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. The average capital market capitalization of one or two of those averages is about $200 billion, $100 billion, or $150 billion. Now, if you convert that and compare, which company in Nigeria has that kind of market capitalization? None. If you add all the companies in Nigeria, they are not up to half of that. So that will give you an idea of what mining is about. We have these resources. For instance, if you discover an iron ore site that has a billon on the ground, that will give you an idea of the effect mining will have on our economy.

  • Illegal miners get 30-day ultimatum to vacate sites

    Illegal miners get 30-day ultimatum to vacate sites

    There will be no hiding place for illegal miners, the Federal Government said yesterday. 

    Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake unfolded plans to introduce mines police and security tax force to combat illegal mining and smuggling.

    He gave illegal miners 30-day ultimatum formalise their participation in the sector by joining institutionally recognised miners’ cooperative societies or quit the industry.

    Alake also said the ministry would create the Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation, which will be joint ventures with mining multinationals.

    The minister said the sector will,at least, make 50 per cent contribution to the economy while attracting foreign direct investment to the country.

    Alake spoke during the unveiling of the ‘Agenda for the Transformation of the Solid Minerals for International Competitiveness and Domestic Prosperity’, in Abuja.

    According to the statement by the ministry’s Deputy Director of Press, Alaba Balogun, the minister said he was determined to maintain a clean break from the past to ensure optimum performance. 

    He said the ministry will focus on a seven-point agenda, including the creation of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation, Joint Ventures with Mining Multinationals, Big Data on specific seven priority minerals and their deposits, 30-day grace for illegal miners to join artisanal cooperatives, Mines Surveillance Task Force and Mine Police, comprehensive review of all mining licenses, and the creation of six Mineral Processing Centres to focus on Value-Added products.

    Alake said: “President Bola Tinubu has taken firm, courageous decisions that have reset the logic of the Nigerian economy. The removal of subsidy and the adoption of a single exchange rate are among the fundamental transformational policies of this administration. This radical approach to making the economy resilient in the long term is the guiding principle of the management of the Ministry. 

    “The Ministry has to take the bull by the horns if the country must reap the harvest of the trillion dollars worth of minerals under the ground across the country. To achieve this laudable objective, there has to be a paradigm shift in the strategy by re-positioning the sector in terms of the human and capital factors that can drive its transformation.”

    Shedding light on the creation of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation, the minister said: “Mining is big business. Nigeria must assert its presence in this environment by replicating its strategic positioning in the petroleum sector by setting up a corporate body that plays in this field. Consequently, the ministry shall work towards the incorporation of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation.” 

    Alake said the corporate body will have subsidiaries doing business in the seven priority areas that require immediate intervention and focus.

    These areas are “Gold, Coal, Limestone, Bitumen, Lead, Iron-ore and Baryte.”

    He said existing enterprises, such as the National Iron-Ore Company, and ongoing arrangements, such as the Bitumen Concessioning Programme, will be reviewed to fit into this new system.

    Alake stressed: “The proposed corporation will seek and secure partnership investment agreements with big multinational companies worldwide to leverage on the attractive investment-friendly regime operating in the country to secure massive Foreign Direct Investment for the mining sector. 

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    “The positioning of the national corporation as a guarantor and protector of the partnership agreements is expected to assure partners of our seriousness and fidelity.

    “Similarly, the Solid Minerals Corporation will provide robust support for Nigerian businessmen seeking funding abroad and help to authenticate their investment proposals to speed up the commitment of their partners to invest. 

    “Domestically, the Solid Minerals Corporation will engage the Nigerian financial system, which has demonstrated palpable reluctance to support mineral prospecting and mining because of the long-term gestation of value generation by developing a fund to facilitate investments in mining at interest rates that will be mutually agreed,” the minister said.

    The minister said the country will leverage on the abundant precious minerals, including gold, manganese, bitumen, lithium, iron ore, lead, zinc, limestone, uranium,  columbite, barite, kaolin, gemstones, coal, topaz and copper that are in massive proportions to attract investors into country.

    He queried: “Nigeria has an estimated reserves include Gold (1 million ounces); Limestone (568 metric tonnes), Lead/Zinc, (Baryte (15 million metric tonnes), Bitumen (N1.1 billion barrels), Iron Ore (3 billion Metric Tonnes) and Coal, (N396 million). How did a sector with over two million operators, including over 633 small-scale companies and 251, 500 registered miners.?”

    The minister also said the ministry will introduce a security tax force and mines police that will combat illegal mining and smuggling.

    He said: “The ministry is giving such persons 30 days’ grace to join a miners’ co-operative or find another vocation to do. On the expiration of the period, the full weight of the law will fall on anyone seen on a mining site without a determinable status. This message will be interpreted into Nigerian languages and broadcast on the radio to ensure no one is ignorant of this directive.

    “From October, a rejuvenated security regime will become active in the solid minerals sector. This will include the Mine Police, sourced from the Nigeria Police and specially trained to detect illegal mining and apprehend offenders. The new Mines Surveillance Security Task Force will coordinate the Mines Police and proactively address high risk incidences of breach of Mining Laws. Federal and state governments will also be encouraged to allocate the prosecution of cases against illegal miners to competent courts.”

    Alake disclosed that the ministry has identified many factors militating against the efficient performance of the sector. 

    These, he said, include inefficient geo-data, weak implementation and enforcement, poor environmental, safety, and health policies, fragility and conflict, unregulated artisanal mining, low technical capacity, lack of access to financing, weak inter-governmental and inter-agency coordination and weak federal/state relations.

  • Buhari to state governments: Don’t make things difficult for miners

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday enjoined state governments to shun unfriendly policies or laws inhibiting the growth and development of the nation’s mining industry.

    The president made the call when he received the leadership of the Miners Association of Nigeria at the State House, Abuja.

    President Buhari also pledged to look into the challenges facing the association with a view to boosting mining activities across the country.

    “I have listened very carefully to your address and I believe the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will articulate your address and forward it to me so that whatever we can do through the supervising minister we should encourage you in terms of understanding of the state governments that are interfering with your activities.

    “I’ll also look at the question of Customs, not looking other way but being very professional and patriotic so that you won’t mind when they insist on what is due to the country in terms of revenue and of course not making it too difficult for you.

    “I’m very pleased with this visit, I’m pleased that we have got some royal fathers that are part of your management team in terms of supporting you, I believe they can influence your state governments, the state governments that are maybe making things difficult,’’ he said.

    President Buhari also directed the Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Mr Bawa Bwari, to particularly look into the complaints of the association with a view to addressing them.

    He said: “I think the minister should take this on, that is why he is there to make sure that he makes it worthwhile for you to invest more, to attract more foreign investors  that can bring capital and technology.

    The president assured that his administration would continue to reinvigorate the mining industry in the country so as to create more employment opportunities and to generate more revenue to diversify the nation’s economy.

    “As I said, the interest of the federal government is really employment and the revenue and we hope your foreign partners will invest more in bringing technology and equipment to bear on the industry,’’ he added.

    In his remark, the President of the Association, Alhaji Sani Shehu, said that Nigeria had recovered its prime position in mining jurisdiction of the world, especially as it related to Tin, Lead-Zinc, Gemstones and Gold.

    He noted that all these achievements were made possible due to the hope, direction, stability, efficiency and the credibility of the Buhari administration.

    Shehu, however, outlined the challenges facing the mining industry to include undue interference in the mining governance by some state governors and inadequate funding to rejuvenate the sector to become the future economic mainstay of Nigeria.

    He, therefore, appealed for presidential intervention to protect miners from “undue interference of some state governors who make mining difficult in their states.’’

    He also appealed for fiscal policy in the mining sector to address the multiple taxations being experienced by miners.(NAN)

  • Miners urge BoI to relax loan conditions

    Miners say they will not be able to access the N5 billion Artisanal and Small Scale (ASM) Mining intervention fund from the Bank of Industry (BoI) unless its terms and conditions are relaxed.

    The miners told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that the terms and conditions attached to the intervention fund were too stringent for ASM to fulfill in order for them to access the fund.

    The Ministry of Mines and steel Development had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BoI to give N5 billion intervention fund to Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners across the country.

    The intervention fund is a joint venture whereby, the bank provides N2.5 billion while the Federal Government provides the balance of N2.5 billion making a total of N5 billion.

    This effort is a plan by the Federal Government through the ministry to rejuvenate the mining sector as a means of economic diversification.

    Under the scheme, the artisanal miners could access from N100,000 to N10 million, while small scale miners could access from N10 million to N100 million.

    The loans are to be made available to certified industry participants at a single digit interest rate of five per cent per annum.

    The aim of the intervention fund was to address insufficient funding and access to capital, which is a major factor militating against artisanal and small scale miners operations.

    The fund would also help to integrate small scale miners into formal sector.

     

  • Miners: More to face sanction on illegal operations

    The Federal Government’s resolve to end illegal mining will restore sanity into the industry, as well as help contribute its quota to national development, the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) President, Sani Shehu, has said.

    He said the development would help the operators to maximise their potential and further compete with their colleagues in other climes, adding that people are afraid of investing in the sector because they are not sure of getting returns on their investments.

    He said the decision by the government to clampdown on erring operators in the solid minerals sector is timely in view of the efforts by the government to diversify the economy from oil.

    At a stakeholder’s forum in Lagos, Shehu said the idea would rejuvenate the sector and make it more focused. The forum was organised at the instance of the Ministry of Solid Minerals.

    He said: “We are going to see more clampdowns on illegal mining activities by the Federal Government this year, following their arrest and prosecution of local and foreign illegal miners last year. The action is in line with the Mining and Minerals Act. We want the government to also apply the carrot and then the stick approach as being taught in management studies.”

    He said the government has provided interventions for the artisans and other small operators, advising the government to arrest illegal miners and other operators, who fail to comply with its directives in the area of using funds that was given to them well.

    “Those illegal miners who don’t want to accept these interventions should be arrested if they don’t want to key into government‘s intervention programmes. Now that government has made all these provisions they should take advantage of them,” he added.

    On the sector’s prospects, he said the country has all it takes to be one of the leading mining destinations in the world based on its abundant mineral resources.

    According to him, the mining is an emerging business destination in Africa as evident by the recognition given to it internationally, urging investors to make use of the opportunities in the sector.

    He urged the government to make more funds available for the Ministry of Solid Minerals, stressing that the idea would enable it perform its statutory responsibilities for the growth of the sector.

    He said the fight against illegal mining would succeed, once there is enough money for the ministry. He said the government released 40 per cent budgetary allocations to the sector in 2016 and last year, advising the government to improve on it allocation, now that the economy has come out of the recession.

    He urged the government to provide more funds for the sector, especially as it has generated more revenue from the customs and agencies in recent times.

  • Miners to states: stop interferring in mining

    Miners to states: stop interferring in mining

    The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged Ebonyi and Lagos states to stop interfering in mining.

    Its President, Alhaji Sani Shehu, who made the call in Abuja, said the two states were interfering with the business of his members.

    According to him, their interference is a breach of the Constitution. He regretted that Lagos had directed his members operating surface mining in Ikorodu Local Government Area to stop because of an environmental issue.

    He advised the state to collaborate with the Mines Environmental Compliance Department of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to solve the problem raised rather than barring the companies from mining.

    On Ebonyi State’s interference, he said it linked the closure of Greenfield Metals Ltd at Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area, to the failure of the company to pay tax.

    Shehu urged Ebonyi to reverse its order as the law did not allow states to collect mineral tax.

    “It is pertinent to state that Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, puts mining on the Exclusive List.

    “It is only the Federal Government that has the right to issue mining licence, collect royalties and supervise mining operations. It can also take necessary action when provision of the mineral act is violated. This position is known to all states in Nigeria.

    “Lagos and Ebonyi states should reverse their orders immediately to avoid constitutional breach, which they have sworn to protect. They should also avoid future unlawful interference in mining,” he said.

    Shehu urged the states to support the Mines and Steel Development Ministry to build a robust mining climate that would create massive jobs for unemployed youths, stating that the states could increase their revenue through the 13 per cent derivation as provided in the Constitution.

  • Ekiti miners to benefit from Fed Govt, BoI N5b loan

    Ekiti miners to benefit from Fed Govt, BoI N5b loan

    Mining activities in Ekiti State have received a boost as small scale miners in Ijero-Ekiti axis will benefit from a N5 billion intervention fund from the Federal Government.

    The Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and the Bank of Industry (BoI) are making available N2.5 billion each for the intervention fund to assist the miners.

    The miners will access the cash through cooperative societies to empower them and stop illegal mining in the state.

    The Programme Director of African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Mr. Monday Osasah, broke the news yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at policy dialogue on Mining supported by Open Society for West Africa (OSIWA).

    He said the N5 billion intervention fund for artisanal and small scale miners was a conscious effort to grow and develop the Mining sector and make it contribute to government revenue.

    Osasah said qualified artisanal miners would be allowed to access between N100,000 and N10 million while small scale miners could get between N10 million and N100 million.

    The Owa Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, who described his kingdom as “the mining centre of Ekiti,” urged Federal and state governments to show more interest in the sector.

    Oba Adewole expressed dismay that gem stones and feldspar mined in the community were taken away and turned into finished products.

    He said: “If government shows more interest in mining in Ijero Kingdom, it can lead to a glass industry and this will create more jobs.”

    Also, LSD Campaign and Research Officer Mr. Omaojor Ogedoh said the advocacy for effective natural resource governance was being implemented in Taraba, Ebonyi and Ekiti states.