FG, GOVERNORS FORUM TO SANITISE MINING OPERATIONS IN NIGERIA 21-10-23
By Sadiq Aminu The federal government has resolved to work in synergy with the Governors Forum on grey areas in mine administration in the country.
This was made known when governors- Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Niger State Governor Umar Bago visited the Minister of the Solid Minerals Development Dr Oladele Alake in Abuja.
The Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Mohammed Bago while fielding questions on incidences of states banning mining said both parties had expressed their decision to work together to remove obstacles to industrial peace in the mines.
”We are referring them back to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.” For instance, a Chinese company was given license 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”, Alhaji Mohammed Bago stated.
He told journalists about government‘s resolve to sanitize mining operations across the states, on issues bothering on cadastral licences for mutually gains.
“we have come to consult with the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake to solicit collaboration”.
Responding, Dr Alake said the Ministry was committed to continuously sanitize the mining operations in all its ramifications and ensure adequate security with the active collaboration of the states.
“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 asserted.