The Federal Government has announced plans to organize a strategic retreat aimed at addressing the lingering issues in the mining industry, particularly the coordination between federal and state governments.
This initiative was revealed by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, following discussions with AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State.
During a meeting with Governor Dikko Umar Rada of Katsina State, Alake emphasized the crucial role of Katsina in the mining sector due to its rich mineral resources.
He reiterated that while solid minerals fall under the exclusive list, states must work closely with the federal government on mining policies and actions.
Governor Rada commended the minister’s efforts to reform the sector and expressed Katsina’s willingness to collaborate with the federal government to harness its mineral potential for regional and national benefit.
He also raised concerns about security challenges in the state, linking them to poverty, injustice, and illegal mining activities.
In response, Minister Alake assured the governor of the federal government’s support in tackling illegal mining with the newly established Mining Marshals.
He also highlighted the importance of the revised Community Development Agreement guidelines, which require consent letters from host communities before granting mining licenses.
Furthermore, Dr. Alake emphasized the strategic role states can play through the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), where governors can nominate the chairman and a significant number of members to oversee mining operations effectively.
He encouraged Katsina to follow the example of other states that have successfully applied for mining licenses to operate as limited liability companies, promising swift processing of such applications.
This planned retreat and the ongoing dialogues demonstrate a comprehensive approach to resolving the complexities of managing Nigeria’s mining resources collaboratively between the federal and state governments.
