Federal Government and states have agreed to collaborate on mining, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dr. Dele Alake said yesterday.
The two tiers of government also agreed to sanitise mining operations across the 36 states and resolve the challenges arising from issuances of cadastral licences.
Also, there was an agreement that firms should revalidate their licenses at the Solid Affairs Ministry and register with the host governments.
According to them, mining activities should be organised for mutually beneficial gains.
The agreements were made at a two-hour meeting hosted by the minister in his office.
At the meeting were Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara State); Seyi Makinde (Oyo), who is the NGF Deputy Chairman and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger).
The highlights of the discussion was the friction between the Federal Government and states over mining activities by the companies franchised by the Federal Government.
Some states have shut down mining sites and served the operators quit notices, following security breaches and other infractions.
The minister and the governors told reporters that they had resolved to work together and remove obstacles to industrial peace in the mining sector.
The Federal Government is relying on the development of solid minerals (mining) and agriculture, among others, to diversify the economy from oil, which is its mainstay.
On the ban imposed on mining activities in their domains, Bago said that states, as sub-national governments, took such decisions for security purposes.
The Niger governor said: “We are referring them back to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. For instance, a Chinese company was given license to mine Zuma rock, a national monument. Can any company in Nigeria or anywhere in the world go and mine the wall of China? It is not possible. So, this is our monument.
“We have come to consult with the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, to solicit collaboration. Let them (mining companies) go back to the ministry for revalidation. Then, come back to the states to register their presence.”
Alake reiterated his ministry’s commitment to sanity and provision of adequate security in the sector.
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He said: “As I have told the governors, we are re-jigging our security architecture nationally with the active collaboration of the states. And we will ensure that the objective is achieved at the end of the day.”
Also last night, the minister said the mandate given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to make solid minerals a cash cow.
He unfolded plan to make the critical sector a significant contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Alake said the value of oil has fallen in the international market, adding that there is need for the government to seek alternative.
He spoke at a reception hosted in his honour by members of the Abuja chapter of Ikoro Progressive Association (IPA).
Alake said: “Oil is falling in the international market. So, we have no alternative but to diversify the economy. So, primarily, that is my duty to everybody in Nigeria. But we all come from somewhere anyway.
“And they say charity also begins at home. So, as much as the entire Nigeria is a carpet for which I’m responsible, I also must not forget my roots.”
Thanking the organisers of the crecrption, Alake added: “I am so excited because it is a momentous occasion for me. My kinsmen from Ikoro Ekiti, where I come from, are here gathered honouring and congratulating me for my appointment as minister by the president.
“So, when you are honoured at home, it is something that goes straight into your court, and it sticks very deeply to your heart. I’m very grateful to the community, the Oba, Kabiyesi, the chiefs and the IPA, Abuja branch that has put this together.
“It’s something of pride for me to be a member of this body. I’m very proud of Ekiti State, I’m proud of Nigeria in general. So, I’m very happy for what has happened here today.”
IPA Chairman Ayodele Adeyemi said a good road network is the major need of Ikoro-Ekiti.
Credit: The Nation Newspaper.
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