The Nation Newspaper

Tag: miners

  • Miners plan sector’s revival

    Miners plan sector’s revival

    • Jos to host talks

    Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME) has planned a conference for the revival of the mining sector in a bid to make it a major countributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GPD.

    The conference Chairman, Central Planning Committee,  Gallio E. Dagu and Chairman, Fund Raising Sub-Committee,  Prof. Stephen J. Mallo in a statement yesterday,  said the theme of the conference is “Resurgence of the Mining Industry: a Key to Revival of Nigerian Economy.”

    The society noted that the theme was purposely chosen to bring into proper focus the contemporary compelling challenges .

    The statement said that: “The Society aims to professionally address the theme and put forward specific recommendations before the Federal Government to further enhance the contribution to the policies already initiated and formulate strategies to put the Mining industry in its rightful position as major contributor to the Country’s GDP.”

    Dagu and Mallo explained that the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME),  an organization that brings together all practicing Mining and Mineral Processing Engineers from all over the country will be holding its 15th Annual General Meeting/Conference in Jos from 3rd to 6th November, 2015.

    The statement added that it  will be hosted by the Jos Zonal Chapter which comprises Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa, Borno,and Yobe States with Headquarter in Jos, Plateau State.

    According to the statement, the Society’s Journal, Nigerian Mining Journal, will also be launched at the conference billed for 5th November 2015.

  • Lack of access to loans cripples mining in Kaduna —Miners

    Lack of access to loans cripples mining in Kaduna —Miners

    The Kaduna State Chapter of the Miners Association of Nigeria on Friday said lack of access to loans from commercial banks had crippled mining activities in the state.

    The Chairman of the association, Malam Lawal Maiyari, made the assertion in an interview  in Kaduna.

    He described mining sector as an untapped goldmine in the state, urging the miners to come up with bankable visibility study on the amount of mineral deposit to attract loans.

    Maiyari said that this had remained a major challenge for miners because mining activities were capital intensive.

    According to him, to come up with a viable visibility study, one will require heavy equipment and other mining gadget without which he cannot achieve much.

    “But with the government’s support, a comprehensive and bankable data will be generated to pave way for sustainable and commercially viable måining activities in the state,’’ he said.

    The chairman of the association said that solid minerals were being underutilised in the country because of the overdependence on the oil  sector.

    He said the north was richly endowed with solid minerals deposit that could sustain every state instead of relying on the allocation from the federation account.

    The chairman said that artisan miners were the first to locally explore the minerals resources in the state.

    “We value their contributions to discover minerals by risking their lives since there are no equipment,’’ he said.

    Maiyari called on the state government to continue to provide security for the miners to enable them to operate in a conducive and secured environment.

  • Miners plan 10% contribution to GDP

    Miners plan 10% contribution to GDP

    The Miners Association of Nigeria has said with the support of the President Muhammadu Buhari- led administration, it could increase mining contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 10 per cent.

    It added that with the Federal Government’s cooperation, the sector could generate 300,000 jobs in one year.

    Its President, Alhaji Sani Shehu, presented this position in the association’s five year Strategic Development Plan for Mining Sector in a  press conference at Abuja.

    He said: “As a major stakeholder in the mining industry, the association has, as a matter of responsibility, resolved to work with the present government to actualise her aspirations of generating additional revenue for the nation and creating massive job opportunities for its teeming population.

    “For this reason, the Executive Council of Miners Association of Nigeria has developed a five-year Strategic Development Plan for Mining in Nigeria. It promises about 300,000 jobs in one year and a contribution of up to 10% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

    According to him, the challenges in the sector are unfavourable conditions for access to funding, inadequate geological and bankable data, inadequate logistical support and the issues with artisanal mining.

    The association’s chief added that inadequate funding of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, interference of mining operations by lower tiers of government in Ogun, Oyo, Benue, Cross River and other states are still barriers to development in the sector.

    Proposing  solutions to the challenges, the association urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts at continuous data generation, proper funding of the Solid Minerals Development Fund and adequate funding of the ministry to strengthen its relevant departments to perform their statutory functions effectively.

    The association also suggested that there should be favourable conditions for access to funding for operators at single digit interest rates.

    It urged the government on extension of local content law for operators at single digit interest rate.

    Asked to mention priorities in a wish list to Buhari, Sani Shehu said funding was very critical, urging the government to funding its machinery.

  • Miners promise 300,000 jobs

    Miners promise 300,000 jobs

    The Miners Association of Nigeria yesterday said it could increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 10 per cent and create additional 300,000 in five years with cooperation from the federal government.

    Its president, Alhaji Sani Shehu, stated this at a press parley to unfold the association’s five- year strategic development plan for the sector in Abuja.

    Shehu identified unfavourable conditions for funding, inadequate geological and bankable data and inadequate logistical support as the major challenges facing the sector.

    He also blamed the sector’s challenges on inadequate funding of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as well as interference of mining operations by lower tiers of government in Ogun, Oyo, Benue, Cross River and other states.

    Shehu also called for extension of local content law for operators at single digit interest rate.

    According to him: “Every year, millions of dollars are spent on importing raw materials that are so vast. We have more than enough yet we prefer to spend the foreign exchange to buy these minerals.

    “The implication is that we are creating unemployment and impoverishing ourselves.”

    He also asked government to promote value addition in exportable minerals to create jobs and additional revenue from the by-products.

     

  • Miners seek inclusion in N220b CBN’s SMEs fund

    Miners seek inclusion in N220b CBN’s SMEs fund

    • Urge govt to develop minerals as oil prices drop

    The Miners Association of Nigeria yesterday called on the Federal Government to  capture the Artsinal and Small Scale Miners (ASMs) as part of the beneficiaries of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) intervention fund for the Small and Medium Enterprises ( SMEs).

    Its President, Alhaji Sani Shehu, who spoke  with The Nation on the economic implications of the declining oil prices, urged the government to “use oil money to develop other options such as the solid minerals”.

    He urged the government to fund the Solid Minerals Development Fund to perform its statutory functions effectively.

    The group said the government should strengthen the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development with a review of its  yearly budget.

    Shehu regretted that “every year, the budget is being reduced. The ministry should be strengthened to face the impact of falling oil prices”.

    The miners  chief urged the government to draw a work plan for the provision of infrastructure that connects minefields with railway facility for easy haulage linkage with the mines, sea ports and industrial areas.

    He said for the government to demonstrate its seriousness about the development of the mineral sector, the presidency should capture it in its Transformation Agenda as it is in the case of agriculture, textile, automobile, and entertainment industries.

    According to him, whenever a government promotes a sector, the sector becomes better.

    Shehu asked government to encourage financial institutions and development banks to lend to miners at single digit interest rate, stressing that it should also continue the gathering of geological data to include reserve estimate in the mines sector.

    He said:“Following the volatility in the prices of oil, government should draw strategies for the promotion of the development of solid minerals because it has the potential to create massive jobs for Nigerians and provide huge Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).”

    Shehu requested the government to encourage foreign investors and partners to enhance transfer of technology and FDI into the mining sector.

    He urged the government to take diversification of the economy from oil to mining serious, noting that the United States (U.S) that was the prime importer of Nigerian crude was last week about the largest producer of the shale oil.

  • Ganaru to fire up Miners

    Ganaru to fire up Miners

    Top scorer in the 2012/13 Globacom Premier League, Victor Namo, believes Mohammed Baba Ganaru can help Nasarawa United become one of the title contenders in the coming season.

    Baba Ganaru switched from Kano Pillars to Nasarawa United as head coach in the off-season and Namo is confident his club’s new gaffer can turn things around at the Solid Miners in the 2013/14 season.

    “I’ve worked with him in the past when I was a player of Kano Pillars and I know what he is capable of doing. For me, he is one of the best coaches we have right now in the league and he has shown that by winning the Globacom Premier League back to back in the past two seasons with Kano Pillars.

    “I was part of the Kano Pillars team that won the title in 2012 and I’m very excited that he has joined Nasarawa United for the new season and that for us, is a very big boost because I know he will re-engineer things here. He’s very, very hard working and professional too,” said Namo to supersport.com.

    The former Yobe Desert Stars man is however looking forward to an eventful year with Nasarawa United, who have never won a major trophy in the country.

    Namo also recognises that he will be a marked man in the coming season after finishing as top scorer in the top flight with 19 goals last term.

    “I’m praying and hoping that this coming season will be the best for me and Nasarawa United. I know with God all things are possible but at the same time, we have to work hard to get to the top and be among the top teams next season.

     

  • ‘Artisanal, small scale miners produce 80% of solid minerals’

    The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development says not less than 80 per cent of the solid minerals in the country are produced by the artisanal and small scale miners.

    Mr Obiora Azubike, the Director, Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Department, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    “It will interest you to know that over 80 per cent of minerals (solid minerals) that are in this country are produced by this class of miners.

    “In fact, this group of miners are actually into all the minerals apart from bitumen.

    “We encourage the miners to participate in the extension service training programme that we conduct annually; part of the programme focuses on processing the minerals.

    “By the time you process your minerals properly, your products will add value and by the time you process further, the value is further added.

    “Like the gemstones producers, rather than exporting or selling their products in raw form, we encourage the miners to cut the gemstones.

    “When you cut the gemstones, you get more value for it even when they are for export,’’ he said.

    Azubike said that the ministry was registering the miners to determine their strength and operational capacity.

    “The main thrust is to determine how many of these mining cooperatives are active, and preliminary results already indicate that a substantial number of registered cooperatives are still active,’’ he said.

    Owning 1 per cent of a successful company is better than 100 per cent of a floundering one

     

  • Miners petition Fashola over alleged extortion

    Land miners have petitioned Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola over alleged fraudulent activities by some top officials of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Ibeju – Lekki/Epe.

    In the petition, the Ibeju Lekki/Epe Miners Association alleged that the officials led by a senior civil servant, who was transferred to the ministry early this year, had been usurping thegroup’s constitutional role and extorting money from its members.

    The petition reads: “The officials have not only usurped the constitutional role of the association into moderating the running of miners’ activities in our axis, but also collect N420,000 daily from our members without issuing official receipt.

    “The breakdown of the haulage revenue we generated for the State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources showed that our association pays approximately N420, 000 daily, N2.5 million weekly and over N 10 million monthly, collected in cash regularly by an agent of a powerful woman in the ministry without receipt being issued, while we were also compelled to pay 20 per cent of the total daily proceeds and N40, 000 daily for security. Our consistent request for receipts for these monies proved abortive, but investigation revealed that only N 60,000 daily, N 360,000 weekly and N1.4 million monthly are remitted to the state Government’s Coffer. To our dismay, these officials went further to hijack the responsibility of our association by imposing rosters on our members and giving consent (licence) to unknown mining operators who are mostly tax evaders.”

    The association said its members were shocked to discover that the number of consent given out between July and November had “ridiculously” rose from 24 to 150, forcing four members to work in a day and just twice in six months.

    The association alleged intimidation by soldiers and policemen at their mining site, adding that they were also threatened with losing their consent from January next year by the officials.

    The association, which is for sand mining in the Ibeju Lekki/Epe, it had succeeded in ending illegal operations, regularising said sales and ensuring the payment of government dues by its members as when due.

  • Miners seek single digit interest rate

    Miners seek single digit interest rate

    The President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Sani, yesterday called the Federal Government to lower the interest rate for mining loan to a single digit as it is applicable to the agricultural sector.

    His words: “We are also advocating that a single digit interest charges should be applicable to mining loans as it is the case with agriculture.”

    While urging President Goodluck Jonathan to fast-track the process for the establishment of Solid Minerals Development Fund, he said : “We want to see the actualisation of this Solid Minerals Development Fund because it is enshrined in the Mineral and Mining Act 2007. We are calling for quicker actualisation of that fund.”

    He said the provision of Special Intervention Fund, that as presently enjoyed by the textile industry could boost the mining industry.

    Sani, who spoke with The Nation at Abuja, recalled that President Jonathan had during his presentation of the 2013 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, removed import duty on mining machinery. He urged the agencies involved in the collection of the duties to abide by the pronouncement.

    The miners helmsman, urged mining companies to take advantage of the pronouncement to import the relevant equipment for their operation.

    He said Nigerians should be apprehensive that the foreign consumers of the country’s oil are planning to exit oil importation, stressing that the US, EU and Australia have concluded plans to stop oil importation by 2025.

    “It is therefore strategically important for the Federal Government to start developing critical sectors, like the solid minerals to gradually take over from oil. They should invest the present oil revenue in mining to save the future . “

    The miners boss, said investment in mining would create more money and jobs than what is obtainable in the present oil dependent economy.

    Sani revealed that the association is presently made up of over 500 Cooperative Societies, adding that plans are underway to register additional 5000 Cooperative Societies this year.

    He explained that the registration would result in the reduction of illegal mining activities in the country, adding that the association has already invited large scale miners in Nigeria the Dangote Group of Company and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to join the association.

     

  • Nexim, miners association renew pact

    The Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Roberts U. Orya met with the Patrons of the Miners’ Association of Nigeria to discuss areas of collaboration on a strategic framework both parties are developing.

    The bank said in a statement that the pact was meant to structure and attract sustainable investments to the solid minerals sector.

    The bank said meeting with the group was a gesture by its patrons to discuss issues of mutual cooperation with NEXIM. It was also a follow-up to the interactive business dinner organised by the association in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Mines & Steel Development.

    Presenting the bank’s initiative and market focus to the association, Mr. Orya said that Solid Minerals is a critical sector for the bank under its MASS Agenda.

    He said the bank has committed more than N2.5 billion or nine per cent of its total portfolio since August 2009 to the sector.

    “This does not scratch the surface of the sector’s requirement if Nigeria is to take advantage and benefit from the huge mineral deposits the country is endowed with,” he said.

    He explained that solid minerals mining is a capital intensive area and requires strong government intervention to unlock its huge revenue and job creation benefits for the country.

    He said that using statistics from theMining Cadastre Office and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency factsheets, Nigeria is endowed with more than 33 commercially viable solid minerals.