States must get FG’S nod before making mining policies, says Alake
• Plans retreat to strengthen sector
MINISTER of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, has urged states to seek Federal Government’s approval before making policy pronouncements on mining activities, reiterating that solid minerals belong to the Exclusive List.
It also announced plans to hold a crucial retreat to address gray areas in the relationship between the Federal Government and states on managing challenges of the mining industry.
Alake disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday while receiving the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum ( NGF), AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, and Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda over the crucial retreat.
According to him, the Federal Government places a premium on Katsina in its plans for the development of the mining sector because of large deposits of viable minerals.
He said: “If a state notices that an operator is conducting his operations against laid down procedures or regulations, we must be notified. Once we are notified, even if the state wants to act, we give them our blessing.” Radda lauded the minister for his efforts to reposition the mining sector, expressing the state’s readiness to partner with the Federal Government to harness its mineral resources for the benefit of the state and the country. The governor sought the assistance of Abuja to tackle insecurity in parts of the state, stressing that poverty, injustice and illegal mining were fuelling the menace. He urged the minister to revoke licences of operators that refuse to develop or commence projects, and investigate instances of operators parading dubious letters of consent from host communities.
In response, Alake said the recently inaugurated Mining Marshals would curb the activities of illegal miners in the state, noting that with the revised guidelines for Community Development Agreements ( CDA), “letters of consent from the host communities are now mandatory” before application for a mining license.
Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, stated that with governors nominating the chairman and five of 10 members of their state’s Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee ( MIREMCO), sub- nationals could play pivotal roles in regulating the activities of mining operators in collaboration with the Federal Government.
The minister urged Katsina to take a cue from other states that applied for mining licences to operate as a limited liability company, assuring the governor of expeditious approval.