A move to sanitise mining operations between the Nigerian government and states was brokered at a meeting between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Nigerian Governors Forum with a resolution to work together on grey areas in mine administration in the country.
Three governors—Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and Niger State Governor Umar Bago—met the Solid Minerals Minister, Dr. Oladele Alake, and agreed on the decision.
At the end of the meeting, both parties addressed journalists about their decision to work together to remove obstacles to mining operations in the country.
The Governor of Niger State, Mr. Mohammed Bago, made this known in Abuja, the nation’s capital, while fielding questions on incidences of states’ decisions on banning mining activities in their states.
Governor Bago said that sub-national governments decided to take this major action for security purposes to shut down mining operations in their respective states.
”We are referring them back to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.” For instance, a Chinese company was given a licence 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”, Governor Bago stated.
On Collaboration
“We have come to consult with the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, to solicit collaboration, let them come back to the Ministry for revalidation, come back to the states to register their presence,” the Niger State Governor emphasised
In his comment, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Oladele Alake, said the Ministry is committed to sanitising mining operations generally in all their ramifications and ensuring adequate security in the sector.
“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”, the minister reiterated.
The meeting also agreed to sanitise mining operations across Nigeria and resolve issues of cadastral licences for mutual benefit.
