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The Nigerian Minerals
and Mining Act of 2007 has palliative measures for the
mining operators and their host communities, apart from its
regulating role.
The Minister of Mines
and Steel Development, Arc.Musa Mohammed Sada stated this
when the Governor of Katsina State,Alhaji Ibrahim Shema
paid him a working visit in his office.
He said “The 2007
Minerals and Mining Act, apart from directing the operators
on things to do and things not to do, also provides for some
palliatives, some encouragement, general direction for the
business environment to make good progress”
Arc. Sada said the
Federal Government is proactively working on some of the
militating factors such as Mining Regulations, establishment
of Mining Cadastre Agency, establishment of Solid Minerals
Development Fund among others, in the implementation of the
Nigerian Minerals and Mining Law of 2007.
He said the Ministry
had inaugurated a Committee on the Review of the Draft
Minerals and Mining Regulation which comprises
representatives from stakeholders in the sector and
technical officials from the Ministry, assuring that the
final copy of the nation’s mining regulation will conform to
international best practices and accepted by the operators
in the mining industry.
He said “Today what we are trying to do is to leave an
enduring programme or operational guideline by inviting all
the major operators in the mining industry to come and form
part of the committee to give the regulations a final nod”.
The Minister also explained that the Ministry has commenced
discussions on financial assistance for mining operators
with financial institutions while the World Bank through the
Sustainable Management Minerals Resources Project (SMMRP)
for the nation has started organizing accounting and
financial seminars for banking officials and mining
operators.
He added that discussions are already in a top gear with the
Federal Government on the need to establish a Solid Minerals
Development Fund for the nation’s mining industry which he
hoped will bring positive result.
According to the Minister “We have already written to the
Presidency towards the establishment of the Solid Mineral
Development Fund, we are likely to succeed”.
The Minister further said that he met with officials of the
World Bank in Washington, USA recently whereby useful
deliberations on the way forward for the development of the
nation’s mining industry took place.
He disclosed that representatives of the World Bank will
meet with him next week as a follow- up to their initial
discussion.
Arc. Sada disclosed that the Geological Survey in Katsina
State showed large deposit of Diamond in which the Ministry
is showing interest, noting that the Nigerian Geology Survey
Agency of the Ministry is working assiduously to provide
necessary information on the area.
He said “I am happy to inform you that the issue of Diamond
sheath that was found in your state; put a lot of interest
in the Ministry, to the extent that the Nigerian Geological
Survey Agency of the Ministry is working extra hour around
that area now”.
The Minister also explained that the geochemical mapping of
Nigeria would provide vital geological information in area
of Agriculture and other areas of Mineral enterprise when
completed.
He explained further that the concept behind the geochemical
mapping is to generate adequate and reliable information
that would build the confidence of mining operators in their
mining activities which will in turn generate wealth for the
nation.
He noted that the Artisanal and Small Scale Miners who are
basically the backbone of the Mining Industry are forming
cooperatives which would enable them access the Federal
Government assistance through the World Bank grant.
He disclosed that the Ministry has just received the
approval of the World Bank for assistance for additional
three Artisanal Cooperative groups who are into mining
activities.
The Minister added that such assistance from the World Bank
Grant is also extended to the mining communities in terms of
provision of social services..
Arc. Sada thanked the Governor for his visit and expressed
the Ministry’s readiness to partner with states of the
Federation in moving the nation’s mining industry forward.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Governor of Katsina
State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema said the purpose of his visit
was to extend his good will to the Minister as well as seek
for partnership both locally and internationally to develop
the mineral potentials of his state.
The Governor said “Katsina State government is looking
forward to make partnership from within and outside this
country that may be interested to look into the mineral
potentials of the state.”
Governor Shema explained various efforts made by the State
Government to explore the Solid Minerals potentials of the
state, adding that, out of 28 mineral types found in
Nigeria, about 18 of them are available in large quantity in
Katsina State.
He noted that some of these minerals; Kaolin, Silica Sand,
Asbestos, Iron Ore, Gold among others are available in all
the local government areas of the state.
He also said report from the geological data revealed that
Diamond is available in the state.
The Governor explained that recognition of the potentials of
the state in minerals endowment encouraged his
administration to set up various cottage industries for its
teeming youth.
He added that with the availability of Kaolin in the state,
thirty four (34) cottage industries were set up to produce
chalk for their schools while twenty four (24) cottage
industries were set up to produce paints for carpentry works
in different local government areas of the state.
Alhaji
Shema said about three hundred and fifty million naira was
realized from the sale of both organic and inorganic
fertilizers that were made from Kaolin in the state
recently.
The Governor pointed out that other private investors are
into granite exploration, gold production and production of
glass from silica sand in the state.
Alhaji Shema disclosed that sample of the clay available in
Katsina State that was sent to China and HongKong for
assessment received a positive report, noting that the
report showed that the Clay can be used for the production
of insulators that is used in briquettes using stoves,
adding that, this will go a long way at reducing ecological
problems in the state.
The Governor called for further assistance from the Ministry
especially in the area of additional geophysical survey of
Katsina State which he said would assist in improving the
solid mineral potentials of the state and the nation at
large
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