As part of measures being put in place to effectively regulate mining activities, the Federal Government is coming up with an all-encompassing policy to adequately unlock the potentials abound in the sector by encouraging and empowering local miners to take over the mining activities, thereby creating huge job opportunities for more Nigerian youths.

Consequently, the Federal Government is currently working on Downstream Policy with a focus on mining activities centred on over 44 mineral resources for which the country is blessed, devising means through which mining activities will be boosted and combating illegal mining activities with a strict trial of any miners caught without necessary approval for mining.

Speaking in Abeokuta on Tuesday during series of meetings with stakeholders in the mining industry, including Lafarge Africa, Uchechukwu Ogah, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, warned illegal miners across the country to desist from their illegitimate activities, perfect their mining titles or risk being jailed for a minimum of two years without any option of fine.

Ogah noted that Federal Government is already working on a law that will establish zonal courts across the geopolitical zones where offenders caught without necessary mining approval from Federal Government will be tried and jailed without an option of fine.

He explained that the stringent conditions and adherence to law becomes inevitable owing to fact that Federal Government is working towards using the nation’s mining sector to diversify the economy, mitigate the country’s unemployment rates and also lift over 100 million citizens out of poverty.

Ogah said the Federal Government is working on evolving a synergy between officials of the Federal Ministry of Mines, the State Executive Councils as well as other stakeholders to eliminate some issues and bottlenecks in the area of levies and royalties payable to the government, saying that we can all do better for the country so that government can use the resources to develop Nigeria.

He said, “We want Nigeria to be a mining destination because we want to use this ministry as a key for the diversification of the economy of this country to create employment for the teeming Nigerian youths.

“Mining is key towards the industrialisation of this nation. The fourth industrial revolution can only be by the way of mining and Nigeria is blessed with over 44 mineral resources. That is why we are devoting our time on the way forward to develop this sector.

“As you can see, within a short time, we have come up with a lot of policies to encourage local miners. We are coming up with a policy called – Downstream Policy, that, you cannot take away any more.

“We want to encourage you to do your businesses in genuine ways: pay your royalties and let the Federal Government get money to develop the nation. Do your Environmental Impact Assessment Reports. We are encouraging them because mining is key for the diversification of the economy”.

RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta

omohayek:
More of the same old Nigerian mentality of treating typhoid with paracetamol, or applying a sticking plaster to a stab wound. The basic problem here is one of private property rights, or rather the lack of them. The only workable long-term remedy is to repeal the insane Land Use Act, allow individuals to have free and clear property rights over anything discovered on their land, and then reform the courts to allow said rights to be quickly and affordably enforced. Anything else will just conjure up brand new avenues for politicians, public "servants" and their cronies to illegally enrich themselves at the expense of others.

Chapter IV Fundamental Rights 

44 (3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the entire property in and control of all minerals, mineral oils and natural gas in under or upon any land in Nigeria or in, under or upon the territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria shall vest in the Government of the Federation and shall be managed in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.

Exclusive Legislative List:

39. Mines and minerals, including oil fields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas.

Blue3k:


I agree but getting rid of the land use act wont help the miners gain mineral rights. Section 44 (3) has to be deleted to achieve individual mineral rights. Land rights and mineral rights naturally go together but the constitution paternalistic statist. Even getting Nigerians to agree with repealing thess laws is hard. Some will argue for the state government to own and control everything. Its weird to see someone dislike freedom.

We are coming up with a policy called – Downstream Policy, that, you cannot take away any more.

“Mining is key towards the industrialisation of this nation. The fourth industrial revolution can only be by the way of mining and Nigeria is blessed with over 44 mineral resources.

He explained that the stringent conditions and adherence to law becomes inevitable owing to fact that Federal Government is working towards using the nation’s mining sector to diversify the economy, mitigate the country’s unemployment rates and also lift over 100 million citizens out of poverty.

Cj4charles:
This is something that i know for sure will be hardly done bcus most of them are hausa's or fulani miners

chinavs9ja:
If FG will jail the miners for 2yrs wif no fine what will the FG do to stop the Boko boys


Check my signature

post=86771856:

TRIBALISM has done something horribly here.
Please kindly stop before it is too late Mr Charles.

Try as much as possible to read a news without attaching tribalistic sentiments to it.
It will do you no good.

Stay safe Charly!

post=86771818:

Anything to move our darling nation forward is what we sane, honest and hardworking Nigerians are after.

It is only when we start doing things the right way that we are going to witness development as a nation.

Slow and steady we will get to a New and better Nigeria.

God bless Nigeria.

omohayek:
More of the same old Nigerian mentality of treating typhoid with paracetamol, or applying a sticking plaster to a stab wound. The basic problem here is one of private property rights, or rather the lack of them. The only workable long-term remedy is to repeal the insane Land Use Act, allow individuals to have free and clear property rights over anything discovered on their land, and then reform the courts to allow said rights to be quickly and affordably enforced. Anything else will just conjure up brand new avenues for politicians, public "servants" and their cronies to illegally enrich themselves at the expense of others.

KINGwax007:
give them amnesty like they gave your brothers

StaffofOrayan:
It's always funny when FG acts tough on Southerners