The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode
Fayemi, has said that the newly inaugurated National Council on Mining and
Mineral Resources Development (NCMMRD), would help accelerate growth in the
sector, through adequate oversight and guidance as well as strategic input from
states and host communities.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the council members in
Abuja on Thursday, Fayemi said the sector had witnessed an unprecedented
consistent growth in the last two years, adding however that the growth would
be accelerated with the emergence of the National Council.
The Minister, who charged the council members- majorly state
commissioners and Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of mining and
minerals- on the need to be alive to the responsibility of wealth and job
creation, said with their dedication, the sector would take a major leap in the
quest to make Nigeria a mining nation.
The inaugural meeting was also attended by the Governor of
Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello; Minister
of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bawari; Minister of
State for Works, Power and Housing, Mustapha Baba Shehuri; Gwom Gwom Jos, Da
Jacob Gyang Buba; the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Dr Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim,
members of the National Assembly and representatives of international agencies.
Dr Fayemi said the sector was primed to experience massive
growth over the long term through a robust institutional and governance
framework that provides adequate oversight and guidance, stronger participation
and shared responsibility from the states and communities as well as building a
solid archive and database of geo-sciences research and data that actively
encourages investor participation.
He added that through the council, the sector would enjoy a
thriving enabling environment that provides the key support infrastructure and
services that enables the industry to flourish.
He said: “I am convinced that Nigeria’s Mineral Resource
endowments can be optimally exploited for the benefit of Nigerians through
collaborative governance of the Mining Sector by governments and communities at
all levels – this event is a huge step in that direction and we appreciate you
for being a part of it.”
Speaking further, the Minister noted that the ministry had
recorded a major breakthrough in funding and in providing access to capital and
financing to artisanal and small scale miners.
“Already, we achieved a 300% increase in revenue (royalties
and fees) between 2015 and 2016, and as at July of this year, the sector had
already surpassed the entire revenue of N2Billion generated for the whole of
2016,” he said.
Fayemi identified the signing of a ‘Modified Concession
Agreement’ between the Federal Government and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited,
which resolved the protracted litigations surrounding the ownership of Ajaokuta
and NIOMCO, as one of the major achievements of the ministry.
“The implication of the signing is that ownership of
Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited has now reverted to the FGN, and we can now
proceed to engage a new core investor with the financial and technical capacity
to run the steel complex.
“The operationalisation of ASC will provide the needed
inputs to support the infrastructure requirements of the country and lead to
import substitution, and save the country about 3.3 billion dollars annually
spent on the importation of steel products.
“To stem the illegal trading of minerals, the ministry has
registered over thirty Mineral Buying Centers, and enacted the Revenue and
Reporting Compliance Agreement with the Nigeria Customs Service, which has
improved the policing of mineral exports.
“With the successful hosting of the inaugural edition of the
NCMMRD, we have covered a major milestone in the implementation of the Roadmap
for the sector, and at the same time set in motion a chain of positive
outcomes. As we look to the future, we remain focused on working with
stakeholders to deliver on all other provisions of the Roadmap”, he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Minister of FCT, Mallam
Mohammed Bello, had lauded the ministry for the recorded growth in the mining
sector, adding that he was optimistic that the sector would witness greater
growth with the coming of the Mining Council.
Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the
necessary ingredients of growth were being put in place in the sector, adding
that Kebbi State, though noted for its rice cultivation in recent time, is keen
on making maximum gain from abundant gold deposit in parts of the state.
Also speaking the Chairman of Plateau State Council of
Chiefs and Gwom Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, urged government to show more
concern for the environmental issues and impact on communities arising from
years of mining.
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