The federal government has declared that it will soon revoke more mineral titles of firms that flout the laid down regulations.
The minister of solid minerals development, Dr. Dele Alake, stated this while answering journalists’ questions during the launch of the Mines Marshals, a special forces outfit to combat illegal miners across Nigeria yesterday at the ministry’s office in Abuja, Thursday.
Dr Alake said the revocation of licences was an ongoing activity towards sanitising the solid minerals sector, which is one of the seven-point agenda of the ministry on his watch.
LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that the government had revoked 1633 mineral titles in November 2023 due to various infractions committed by the affected companies.
Also, the minister has ruled out granting mining licences to prospective investors if they do not show concrete plans for local value addition to the minerals towards employment generation and wealth creation.
Dr. Dele Alake stated this while playing host to members of the House Committee on Solid Minerals on an oversight visit to the ministry Wednesday.
According to a statement by the minister’s special assistant on media, Segun Tomori, Alake applauded the lawmakers for their support in repositioning the mining sector, stressing that changing the economic fortunes of Nigeria is a joint task by both the executive and legislature.
He said following his election as the chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia further, there is now unity of purpose on the African continent on the issue of local value addition.
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“We are no longer going to allow anybody or licence any company that wants to go into the mineral sector without giving us a plan for local value addition like processing, refining and this has a multiplier effect on the economy. It instantly generates employment rather than a few people carting away lithium, gold, and the likes to other countries to sell. These minerals must now be processed in Nigeria, creating more value and beneficiation for local communities where they are sourced,” Dr. Alake added.
On security, the minister revealed that the federal government has finalised a new security outfit to secure the nation’s natural resources that will incorporate the existing structure of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with infusion of technology and specialised training.
“We have come up with what we believe can stem insecurity around natural resources like solid minerals, forests, and the marine economy. We decided to use the existing structure of the NSCDC because of the cumbersome process of establishing a new security architecture. In terms of deterrence, the new NSCDC corps will be useful, “he asserted, adding that there will be a command in every state of the country.
According to the minister, modern day security architecture is predicated on mostly technology rather than reliance on only boots on the ground.
