₦airaland Forum

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday said that the Warri-Itakpe Standard Gauge line was ready for passenger, commercial and freight services.

Amaechi disclosed this while supervising the nearly completed standard guage rail project across the three states involved on Thursday.

The train corridors involved Itakpe in Kogi, Aghenebode in Edo and Agbhor in Delta with 12 railway stations along the corridors.

Amaechi, while commenting on the level of work done said that the Itakpe to Abuja axis would cost the government $3 billion.

"The train is now available for commercial activities and we believe the passengers and companies on iron ore will patronise the services.

"We have 12 stations from Itakpe to Warrior where work is ongoing but mostly all of them are nearly completed for easy access to the train services in the 316 km journey.

"The Itakpe-Abuja corridor will cost the Federal Government three billion dollars with Seaport in Warri.

"The government has said it has the plan to connect the whole country by train, so we are doing it gradually; very soon all the states will be connected," the minister said.

NAN reports that the railway stations include, Ujevwu, Agbhor, Itakpe, Eganyi, Adogo, Ajaokuta, Itogbo Aghenebode, Ehkehen, Igbanke Abraka, and Okpara involving the three states.

NAN also reports that free passenger train operations commenced in Nov. 26, 2018, with the train running four times per week in the same corridor with over 2,501 passengers so far transported in 49 trips. (NAN)

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/warri-itakpe-railway-project-ready-for-commercial-activities-amaechi/

erico2k2:
So them 4got Somalia right??

Gulf of Guinea is more dangerous actually. Nigerian waters are more dangerous than Somalian waters now. It's just covered in media like there's was.


[img]https://media./images/717ab9e879a51708fb2aafa67406f06b/tenor.gif[/img]

When are we going to see indictments. If there's none its just a conspiracy theory.

Piracy attacks off Nigeria’s coast fell to 14 in the first quarter from 22 a year ago after the navy improved its response to incidents,

The region accounted for all the crew kidnappings reported globally in the three months,

Thats cool let them strive for zero incidents of privacy. Nigeria is still most dangerous country in gulf of Guinea glancing at the numbers. Hopefully the Deep Blue Project makes a big impact. Its just the 1st quarter so lets see if this downward trend continues the rest of the year.

By Elisha Bala-Gbogbo

Piracy attacks off Nigeria’s coast fell to 14 in the first quarter from 22 a year ago after the navy improved its response to incidents, the International Maritime Bureau said.

“These results confirm the Nigerian navy’s increased efforts to actively respond to reported incidents by dispatching patrol boats,” the London-based body that tracks attacks on sea vessels said. “Despite these efforts, Nigerian waters remain risky for vessels, especially the port of Lagos where four incidents have been reported.”

The Gulf of Guinea retained its notoriety for piracy with 22 incidents reported during the period. The region accounted for all the crew kidnappings reported globally in the three months, after 21 of them were taken in five separate attacks, the IMB said. Incidents were reported off the coast of Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo in the first quarter, it said.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2019-04-10/piracy-attacks-in-nigeria-fell-by-36-in-first-quarter-imb-says

Front page: Lalasticlala

rummmy:
and the gold mining in zamfara, zabo river in minna Niger state... Also caco2 in nafada and funakye areas of gombe state... We know ooo

Nice work on listing Gombe, this should be reported to police. Theres menaces is far and wide. They need to step up their efforts like Ghana and arrest all offenders.

mrhowoto:
[s][/s]

Lol you're not going to call the mod again sissy? Your clown culture is hilarious. You make noise but when its time to back your points you run away. Who made you guys so backwards.

Simple questions you clowns cant answer:

How did the article defend illegal miners?
How is the article deflecting away from illegal mining situation?


https://i.imgur.com/FR3YpWw.gif

mrhowoto:
Some blue dogs self

Lol you're not going to call the mod again sissy? Your clown culture is hilarious. Ignorance and hypocrisy are your two biggest virtues. You make noise but when its time to back your points you run away. 

https://i.imgur.com/FR3YpWw.gif

Case and point ojukwu.

mrhowoto:
[s][/s]

Lol you're not going to call the mod again sissy? Your clown culture is hilarious. Ignorance and hypocrisy are the biggest virtues for your ilk. You make noise but when its time to back your points you run away.



https://i.imgur.com/FR3YpWw.gif

mrhowoto:
[s][/s]

Lol sissy cry some more. Call daddy since you can't argue your point like man.

https://i.imgur.com/FR3YpWw.gif

mrhowoto:
[s][/s]

Lol you called mod like a sissy. I guess you can dish but cant take it clown. Sequel to him the mods dome more.


https://i.imgur.com/FR3YpWw.gif

NaijaFutbol:
You cant even make a single correct sentence. I give up.

Lol why running away from your arguement. Come on clown show me where they defended illegal mining. You said the were deflecting but the said illegal gold mining is an issue. Dont deflect just prove your point.

Lol stick to being an editor if thats your skill set.

NaijaFutbol:
We are in 2019 and some people are brandishing 2016 data in defense of looting via solid minerals mining.

You're just an ignorant liar and conspiracy theorist. There's s reason you wont quote where they defended illegal mining. Just admit this conspiracy is just a figment of your imagination.

[s]

NaijaFutbol:
I have helped you with your Writing disability.

But I cant help with your understanding disability. I still maintain that the weak publication of 2016 data is a propaganda to deflect focus from illegal mining causing the rise of banditry in Zamfara.

If you decide to carry the propaganda as yours and defend yourself when someone call it out, na your own problem.

[/s]

NaijaFutbol:
We are in 2019 and some people are brandishing 2016 data in defense of looting via solid minerals mining.

Lol you what a clown you. You're reading disability is real. Instead of you to show proof theyre defending illegal miners you start rambling. You can't find one sentace out the whole article to prove you point how pathetic. The same organization already published seprate paper about illegal mining this year so how is it a deflation?

You just an ignorant liar and conspiracy theorist. The reason you wont quote where they did is becsuse you know it only exist in your imagination. Fact is they already called out illegal mining. Both these reports where published before Zamfara mines were closed. You can find more reports proceeding these.

[s]

NaijaFutbol:
I never quoted you unless you are NEITI or part of the propaganda.

There is massive stealing of solid minerals going on in Zamfara which until recently was allowed my federal and state governments to go on unhindered.

Why the recent "ultimatum to expatriates and non licensed miners"?

Meanwhile, you need to improve on your English or type in your native language. Google translate can come to the rescue.

[/s]

Stop lying dude you claimed this report is just a means to defend illegal miners. Fact is the report came out last year and they already released report this year about illegal mining issue. Illegal mining is an issue all over the nation that the FG doesnt tackle adequately. You're just fixated on Zamfara because it's in news.

Now explain how the report is being used to defend illegal miners. You seem unwilling to explain this.

NaijaFutbol:
We are in 2019 and some people are brandishing 2016 data in defense of looting via solid minerals mining.

Niger State is the leading destination for illegal mining of solid minerals in Nigeria, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative announced on Thursday.

NEITI further stated that five other states including Plateau, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and Zamfara were among the leading destinations for illegal mining activities across the country.

NaijaFutbol:
Thanks for showing off your writing disability

Clap for your NEITI that as at Q2 of 2019, it has 2016 report as its latest. Quotarideen!

Thanks for pointing out typo. Now tell me where I defend illegal mining liar. You clowns were still wrong about all claims you made about resources not being shared.

You're right the need to get caught up by next report.

Bizibi:
I don't know about rubies but I'm sure you will see the rest in jos mining sites.

The rubies are in Kano. You're right about plateau.

emyrald91:
Why do ijiots continue to be ijiot. So sand is now solid mineral abi?

Lol youre so ignorant its hillarious. Wow your village education is showing. Yes sand is a solid mineral its listed and taxed. Ask any geologist if you dont understand why. Why you ignorant people comment on matters you dont understand is a mystery.

Using your clown logic we should count stones like granite since they're rocks. They're no longer solid minerals.

What is Sand?

The word "sand" is actually used for a "particle size" rather than for a "material." Sand is a loose, granular material with particles that range in size between 1/16 millimeter and 2 millimeters in diameter. It can be composed of mineral material such as quartz, orthoclase, or gypsum; organic material such as mollusk shells, coral fragments, or radiolarian tests; or rock fragments such as basalt, pumice, or chert. Where sand accumulates in large quantities, it can be lithified into a sedimentary rock known as sandstone.

Bizibi:
they have diamond too,when I tell people the northern part of Nigeria is heavily blessed,they don't believe it.....

They're doing mine that illegally if they do. Legally Nigeria does mine other previous stones like rubies, sapphires, garnet, amethyst etc.

Auxtin85:
Bleep off you fool how is the mineral revenue from the north shared? Shared between who and who

Lol another ignorant clown pontificating about topics you know nothing about. Its shared like anything else. All the information is publicly available just look it up.

A striking feature of the report was that the sum of₦9.923 billion was shared by the three tiers of government in 2016, being the accumulated revenues from 2007 to 2014 from the solid minerals sector.

A breakdown of the figure shows that the Federal Government got N4.547 billion while states and local governments shared N2.306 billion and N1.778 billion respectively. The sum of N1.289 billion was also shared as derivation.

Further breakdown shows that Ogun State received the highest share of N369.84 million while Kogi and Cross River states received N317.66 million and N237.10 million respectively.

Other states among the top five recipients are Kano and Oyo states which received N208.83 million and 200.45 million respectively while Ekiti and Bayelsa got the lowest share of N91.25 million and N76.66 respectively.

emyrald91:
So Northern sand is mined by the government abi? Tell me any state that manages sand mining as a government activity? The sand from lagoon, who mine it, FG I guess? the rocks in Kogi and every other northern state? So that one isn't illegal abi? Which Budget have you ever seen that hopes to generate revenue from the sand mined in the North or South West When it's in the south East or South South its national property, but else where especially in the North it belongs to clans. Wait for you next level....

Instead of being ignorant why not look up NBS stats. All the legal mining data is available to you. Mining is done by private companies in nigeria. Again you're ignorant hypocrites mineral revenue is shared. Why you clowns pontificate on topics you know nothing about is a mystery.

emyrald91:
What is wrong with the North? [b]So the South East illegally mines sand and soil? like sand and oil, Mined illegally? [/b][font=Lucida Sans Unicode]
Afonja news

Lol you hypocrites are funny. Illegal mining is ok when you do it. We understand you want to steal now just do it without the moral grandstanding.

Auxtin85:
The minerals in the south is for the entire Nigeria, the minerals in the north is for the northerners alone

Solid mineral revenue is shared stop being ignorant.

I wonder if people will consider this propaganda when NEITI list where tye illegal mines are and whats being taken. Anyone that disagress should nanes the ststes and listed where illegal mines are what's being taken.

seguno2:
Simply behind on transparency and pretending to fight corruption
Who believes that kind of story?

Lol who cares what you believe. Prove any fact listed wrong. You ignorant ignorant clowns are just hypocrites pontificating on topics you dont know anything about.

There's a reason you ignore Illegal mining in backyard then refuse argue facts and figures. You guys are a funny bunch.

Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja

Niger State is the leading destination for illegal mining of solid minerals in Nigeria, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative announced on Thursday.

NEITI further stated that five other states including Plateau, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and Zamfara were among the leading destinations for illegal mining activities across the country.

The agency disclosed this in its latest report on improving transparency and governance for value optimisation in Nigeria’s mining sector.

It said out of the six states at the top of the illegal mining list, Niger had more illegal miners, with 10 illegal mining sites, adding that minerals such as gold, lead, zinc and tantalite were consistently mined illegally from the identified sites.

NEITI said Plateau State was next on the list with seven illegal mining sites found to be taking away tin, columbite, barites and zinc.

The agency went on to state that Ebonyi and Imo had five illegal mining sites, while Enugu and Zamfara had four sites from where lateritic soil, lead, zinc and gold were illegally taken.

The report also stated that there were no globally recognised mining major or minor companies in Nigeria’s mining industry, adding that international firms often shunned Nigeria’s mining sector because it currently does not look attractive to them.

It added that the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product had dwindled from about five per cent that it was in the 1960s and 1970s, to a mere 0.5 per cent at the moment.

NEITI said there were still obvious shortfalls especially with regards to governance and transparency in the mining sector despite the recent efforts of the Federal Government to revive the industry.

On revenue generation from the extractive industries between 2007 and 2016, a period of 10 years, the report stated that while the country’s oil and gas sector yielded to it $474bn, the solid minerals sector provided only $1.777bn.

It, however, noted that if the country was able to adequately harness up to 54 different minerals found across its states, the minerals could contribute to Nigeria’s national stock of foreign exchange and increase the country’s wealth.

Source: https://punchng.com/illegal-mining-highest-in-niger-five-other-states/amp/

seguno2:
2016 is the latest report and we are in April 2019 yet you have mouth to talk and defend the looting and theft cover up
At least try to have a little bit of shame. Please.

You must have a reading disability as well. Where did I defend looting? I know its you culture to lie but try not to act mentally challenged for 5 minutes. Dispute the facts presented instead of whining. The report was posted in 2018. They're simply behind on audit reports.

Lol clown please explain your silence on illegal mining in your backyard. You hypocrites are transparent.

NEITI further stated that five other states including Plateau, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and Zamfara were among the leading destinations for illegal mining activities across the country.

https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ChildMiners7-e1514491955185.jpg
Women and children working in a lead mine in Enyingba

https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_20171107_132814.jpg
Children taking turns to fetch stones out of the pit


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqinVkxxg4Q


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap4zkZiGqD4

seguno2:
Which is the purpose of this propaganda- to minimise the big issues of illegal mining in the wake of Zamfara killings

degamemaster:
Shut your mouth up and seize promoting falsehood. This useless report you're defending is a propaganda to cover up the illegal mining of gold going on in zamfara state which got busted and we started crying out.

You clowns are just mad the facts dont align with world view. You hypocrites ignore illegal mining in your backyard. You guys cant even attempt challenge facts listed their. If the report is a lie why hasnt any governor, political commentator or reportor challenged it? I dont why ignorant people like you guys pontificate on topic you know nothing about.

NaijaFutbol:
We are in 2019 and some people are brandishing 2016 data in defense of looting via solid minerals mining.

2016 is latest report. Where did I defend illegal miners. You guys must have a reading disability.

Niger State is the leading destination for illegal mining of solid minerals in Nigeria, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative announced on Thursday.

NEITI further stated that five other states including Plateau, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and Zamfara were among the leading destinations for illegal mining activities across the country.

Further breakdown shows that Ogun State received the highest share of N369.84 million while Kogi and Cross River states received N317.66 million and N237.10 million respectively.

I've been seeing alot if ignorant people asking if solid mineral revenue is shared. The answer is yes but its negligible. The figures here also wouknt include state query taxes. Fact is mining sector is small percentage of economy. Illegal mining big issue all over the country. The country loses billions and there's safety risk.

Where to get mining data:
NBS
NEITI
Ministry Mines and Steel

Abuja, November 13, 2018. The solid minerals sector contributed a total sum of N43.22billion to government coffers in 2016, reports the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

A breakdown of the figure shows that taxes collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) accounted for N40.38 billion or 93.43%, while fees collected by the Mining Cadastral Office stood at N1.15 billion or 2.66%.

The Mining Inspectorate Department (MID) recorded N1.64 billion as royalty payments, an increase of 30.15% over the N1.27 billion reported as royalty payments in 2015.

These are some of the highlights of the 2016 audit report of the solid minerals sector released today by NEITI.

The audit conducted under the EITI principles and standard reconciled payments made by mining companies in terms of taxes, royalty and rents against receipts of such payments by relevant government agencies.

From the report, total minerals production for 2016 was 41.87 million tons valued at N34.09 billion, representing 33% increase on the N25.56 billion reported in 2015.

However, tax collection and payment of other fees for 2016 reduced by 32% when compared to the figure of N63.98 billion for 2015.

The report further disclosed that while six hundred and fifty-one (651) extractive companies made royalty payments in 2016, only fifty six (56) companies that met the materiality threshold of N3million and above were considered for reconciliation. The companies that met this threshold accounted for 86.87% of the total royalties paid.

On state-by-state minerals production, Ogun State contributed 33.49% to the total production to top the table, followed by Kogi State with a contribution of 19.7%, while FCT came third with 6.20%.

From the report, minerals production by companies shows that three companies - Dangote Cement Plc, West African Portland Cement Plc, and United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (UNICEM) contributed 70% of total production in 2016. This shows that the cement sub-sector is still dominant in solid minerals production activities.

Further analysis of production by minerals types shows that limestone was the most produced mineral and accounted for 49.35% of the total solid minerals production in 2016, followed by granite with 31.32%. The least contributions were made by gypsum, iron, talc and amethyst with 0.1% each.

The report also revealed that the solid minerals sector’s contribution to exports in 2016 stood at ₦11.16 billion, representing 3.38% of the N330.01 billion for non-oil exports and 0.13% of total export of ₦8.53trillion.

From the report, China was a major destination of Nigeria’s solid minerals in 2016, accounting for53.63%, followed by Spain and India which accounted for 26.48% and 8.90% respectively.

The report put the Free on Board (FOB) value of the solid minerals exported in 2016 at $40.934 million while the overall contribution of the sector to the country’s GDP was put at ₦87.61billion representing 0.13 % of the total GDP of N67.9 trillion.

The sector has witnessed a steady, even if marginal increase in its contribution to the GDP from 0.11% in 2014, 0.12% in 2015 to 0.13% in 2016. The sector also contributed 0.3% to national employment in 2016.

The report also disclosed that a total of 4,575 valid minerals titles spread across the various states of the federation were recorded in 2016. This comprises 1,751 Exploration Licenses, 208 Mining Leases, 1,563 Quarry Leases, and 1,053 Small Scale Mining Leases.

Out of the total valid titles in the MCO register, 1,465 titles were issued in 2016 while 1,030 were revoked and 14 were transferred. The report further stated that 315 Exploration Licenses were issued in respect of the priority minerals identified by government. The priority minerals are gold, lead-zinc, baryte, iron-ore, bitumen, limestone, and coal.

The report revealed that some title holders entered into MOUs with other companies without duly informing the relevant government agencies. As a result, out of the 651 operators that paid royalties, 312 companies representing 48% were not recorded in the MCO register either as valid, revoked or transferred titles for the year.

A striking feature of the report was that the sum of₦9.923 billion was shared by the three tiers of government in 2016, being the accumulated revenues from 2007 to 2014 from the solid minerals sector.

A breakdown of the figure shows that the Federal Government got N4.547 billion while states and local governments shared N2.306 billion and N1.778 billion respectively. The sum of N1.289 billion was also shared as derivation.

Further breakdown shows that Ogun State received the highest share of N369.84 million while Kogi and Cross River states received N317.66 million and N237.10 million respectively.

Other states among the top five recipients are Kano and Oyo states which received N208.83 million and 200.45 million respectively while Ekiti and Bayelsa got the lowest share of N91.25 million and N76.66 respectively.

The release of the 2016 report by NEITI brings to seven in the series of independent reports on the solid minerals sector published as part of efforts to ensure transparency as well as bring local and international attention to the revenues and investment potentials in the solid minerals sector.

The 2016 Solid minerals audit was conducted for NEITI by Tajudeen Badejo & Co, an indigenous accounting and auditing firm.

The independent audit is consistent with NEITI’s mandate and in fulfillment of Nigeria’s obligation to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) as an implementing country.

The NEITI 2016 oil and gas report is currently at the final stage of completion and will be released soon, while the 2017 audit process is ongoing.

Details of the 2016 solid minerals report with findings and recommendations are available on NEITI websitewww.neiti.gov.ng.

Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji.

Director, Communications and Advocacy.

Source: http://www.neiti.gov.ng/index.php/media-center/news/450-neiti-solid-minerals-contributed-n43-2billion-to-government-revenue-in-2016-as-fg-states-lgs-shared-n9-9-billion

trapQ:
Heard that dude 69 was looking at 47years.

He would face 47 years if he was dumb enough to take case to trial and lose. The rumor is he's getting out soon with time served. You can watch dj akademiks for details.

When are we going to see indictments to these individuals. I hope you guys have been investigating this for awhile and not just finding this out. Anyway the illegal miners bandit connection has been known for awhile. IRIN did an investigative report on issue in Zamfara.

In US this would be a RICO case where everyone takes a plea deal or snitches for less time. See Takahashi 6ix9ine case an example.