From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said the Inauguration of the specialised mining marshals have in the little time of operations discouraged illegal mining activities across the country.
Dr. Alake stated this while addressing the Nigeria-Australia Investment Roundtable virtually in Abuja.
He explained that the marshals have brought sanity and relief to recognised miners by clamping down on those involved in nefarious activities around mining areas across the country.
Alake who noted that legal mining is not just unlicensed mining added that it covers licensed miners operating with invalid licenses or licensed miners operating outside their coordinates or mining minerals not approved in their licenses.
Highlighting efforts to combat illegal mining and insecurity around mining areas, Alake cited the establishment of the 2,220 strong elite para-military force tagged “Mining Marshals” which is made up of a 60-man rapid response squad, deployed in each of the 36 states of the federation and FCT.
The Minister assured the Australian investors that plans for the establishment of the private sector led Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation has reached advanced stage, stressing that the corporation is poised for Joint Ventures with investors on critical minerals like Lithium, Gold, Baryte Lead, Iron-ore amongst others.
“Both the legislative and corporate processes for the establishment of the corporation have reached appreciable stages. I hope to invite you to the formal unveiling of Nigeria’s intervention in the international mining business, very soon”, he added.
On strengthening regulatory frameworks, the Minister revealed that after the revocation of 1,633 titles for default in payment of annual service fees, scrutiny has been extended to other categories of defaulters in a bid to tackle indiscriminate speculation, license racketeering and the menace of those that obtained licenses over the years but refused to move to site.
“We have raised the approval level of permits and licenses for buying minerals; export of minerals and operation of mineral processing centres whilst also authorising the publication of the monthly digest of mining statistics to keep the sector abreast of developments” Dr. Alake emphasized.
Dr. Alake who urged his audience to make Nigeria their choice investment destination, reiterated the commitment of the Tinubu administration in providing incentives and removing impediments to ease of doing business.
“Australians seeking to expand their mining portfolio to Africa should prioritise Nigeria in view of our positive investment friendly policies and ongoing rapid transformation. Many of the heavy equipment imported for mining can be evaluated to qualify for tax waivers and exemption from import duties”
“Nigeria also has a favourable funds and capital repatriation policy that ensures investors’ funds are not trapped”, the minister stated