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As parts of the reform agenda of the present administration
within the Mining Sector, the Federal Government has
commenced the issuance of mineral titles to the successful
mineral title holders with a view to making the nation’s
mining sector more competitive with other mining
destinations around the world and to attract foreign direct
investment to the country.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs. Diezani
Alison – Madueke made the disclosure while presenting the
Mineral Title document to the successful companies and
briefing Journalists on the completion of the revalidation
of mineral titles issued under the Nigerian Minerals and
Mining Act of 2007 .
The Minister said that a revalidation committee with the
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry as Chairman was
constituted to assess all mineral titles issued under the
Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007.
She added that the revalidation committee ensured a
complete compliance with the requirements of the law in the
revalidation exercise which include the following:
Commitment to minimum work obligations; Notice to Land Owner
and Occupiers; Consent from Land Owner and Occupier,
Specifying minerals to be explored or exploited; Financial
capability, Technical ability; Survey of area (for leases)
while the provisions of Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act,
2007 was enforced on the title holders who fail to provide
the necessary requirements.
Mrs. Alison – Madueke said at the close of the time for the
submission of document for revalidation assessment, a total
of 737 operations responded out of which 489 titles were
successfully revalidated; 29 titles were provisionally
revalidated (subject to submission of dated consent letters;
49 titles which were under assignment will be subjected to
further processing while 832 titles were unsuccessful and
were therefore not revalidated.
The Minister said with the revalidation process, the Mining
Sector would be rid of speculators’ while only genuine
investors with the necessary competence would be allowed to
operate in the sector.
She said “the process has therefore cleaned the sector of
speculators and allowed only genuine investors with the
necessary competence to operate”.
The Minister added that the revalidation of mineral titles
which had hitherto posed a major challenge to the operators
in the mining sector has been overcome, stressing that this
process will attract major international investors into the
sector.
She reiterated the President Umaru Yar ‘Adua led
administrations sustained commitment to the development of
the nation ‘s mining sector which would contribute
significantly to the Gross Domestic Product of the country
, the actualization of the present administration’s Seven
Point Agenda and the nation’s quest to be among the 20
largest economics by the year 2020.
Part of the highlights of the occasion was the presentation
of mineral titles to a representation of the successful
mineral title holders among which are Julius Berger Company,
Ashaka Cement Plc, Dantata and Sawoe Company by the
Honourable Minister.
While fielding questions from newsmen, the Director, Mining
Cadastre Department, Engineer Sheikh Goni said “The Mining
Act is very clear as to who has what power to ensure a
sustainable and orderly development of mineral resources in
the nation and that power is vested on the Minister of Mines
and Steel Development. It is the Minister that will sign the
mineral titles before the Mining Cadastre Office is
established’’
The Managing Director, Ecophoenix Limited, Mr. Bill Hussey
who responded on behalf of the successful mineral title
holders thanked the Federal Government for the laudable
landmark in the mining sector.
Mr. Hussey said the completion of the revalidation process
would remove the inconsistencies in the nation’s mining
operations.
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