The Minister of Strong Minerals Improvement, Dr. Dele Alake, has affirmed the resolve of the Federal Authorities to foreclose the acquisition of mining licences by potential traders with out requisite plans for native worth addition.
Alake additionally acknowledged that the federal government’s stance now prohibits the exportation of mineral assets reminiscent of lithium, gold, and comparable commodities.
As a substitute, these minerals should endure processing inside Nigeria, fostering elevated worth and native profit for the communities the place they’re sourced.
An announcement by his Particular Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, mentioned the minister gave the dedication whereas internet hosting members of the Home Committee on Strong Minerals on an oversight go to to the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja.
In line with him, the federal government has additionally finalised plans to include a brand new safety outfit with the prevailing construction of the Nigeria Safety & Civil Defence Corps to safe the nation’s pure assets by means of the infusion of know-how and specialised coaching.
Alake mentioned, “We’re not going to permit anyone or license any firm that wishes to enter the mineral sector with out giving us a plan for native worth addition like processing, and refining and this has a multiplier impact on the financial system. It immediately generates employment fairly than just a few individuals carting away lithium, gold, and the wish to different international locations to promote. These minerals should now be processed in Nigeria, creating extra worth and beneficiation for native communities the place they’re sourced.”
He applauded the lawmakers for his or her help in repositioning the mining sector, stressing that altering the financial fortunes of Nigeria is a joint activity by each the chief and legislature.
“The significance of this committee can’t be overstated as a result of whether or not we prefer it or not, we’re on the cusp of historical past and it does beckon on us individually and collectively whether or not as govt or legislature to vary the paradigm of Nigeria’s financial fortunes as a result of we’ve to diversify our financial system away from the mono-cultural dependency on oil. Once more, that underscores the importance of this committee due to the significance of the ministry in that regard. That’s the reason I view your go to right here at the moment with a way of proprietary, accountability, and appreciation of the oversight capabilities that you’re saddled with.
“We welcome you and imagine that from the kind of comradeship that I’ve personally loved with the committee and the management, I’ve little question in my thoughts, that what the chief of this ministry must forge forward to realize its acknowledged targets by way of logistics help, legislative framework crafting is assured. it offers me nice confidence that when you may have members of a committee that perceive the problems at stake, perceive the issues that the ministry faces and know the best way to give the required backup, then we within the govt may have no excuse for failure. We will solely forge forward,” the minister mentioned.
He additionally seized the event to guarantee the legislators of the numerous contribution of sub-nationals to mining improvement, stressing that state chairmen of the Mineral Assets and Environmental Administration Committee and 5 members of the committee are nominated by state governments.
Highlighting the renewed curiosity of the worldwide neighborhood in Nigeria’s mineral assets, Alake burdened that his 7-point agenda has put the mining sector on the worldwide entrance burner since he assumed workplace
“With the help of the Everlasting Secretary, administration and the Home committee, we’ve been capable of venture the sector globally and the results of our efforts culminated in my election because the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Technique Group on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Discussion board in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia based mostly on our 7-point agenda which was applauded by one and all. This can be a group that consists of all African international locations’ Ministers of Strong Minerals/Mineral Assets”.
On safety, the Minister revealed that the Federal Authorities has finalised a brand new safety outfit to safe the nation’s pure assets that can incorporate the prevailing construction of the Nigeria Safety & Civil Defence Corps with the infusion of know-how and specialised coaching.
“We’ve got provide you with what we imagine can stem insecurity round pure assets like strong minerals, forests, and marine financial system. We determined to make use of the prevailing construction of the NSCDC due to the cumbersome course of of building a brand new safety structure. When it comes to deterrence, the brand new NSCDC corps will likely be helpful, “he asserted
In line with the minister, there will likely be a command in each state of the nation and can contain the infusion of an enormous dose of know-how, noting the modern-day safety structure relies on principally know-how fairly than reliance on solely boots on the bottom.
“What a complete battalion can do, one single drone can do it, so the brand new safety outfit will likely be largely technologically pushed, and they are going to be below the general command of the Ministry of Strong Minerals Improvement. They’re to safe our mine websites, and assist in stemming theft, unlawful mining, and carting away of our strong minerals. The command construction of the brand new outfit will likely be inaugurated within the coming days, the Minister affirmed.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Gaza Gbefwi acknowledged that the Home Committee on Strong Minerals, in fulfilling its constitutional accountability of oversight, paid a go to to the ministry to make sure that the chief is doing what it’s presupposed to do for residents to get most beneficiation from the mining sector.
He expressed appreciation to the Minister for cooperating with the legislature in its oversight operate of checks and balances, emphasizing that the committee will do what is critical to again up reforms with requisite laws that can allow the chief to propel the sector into an enviable place, with vital contribution to the nation’s financial system.
