The federal government has announced plans to hold a crucial retreat that would address grey areas in the relationship between federal and state governments on managing challenges of the mining sector, Dr Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development has said.
According to the minister, he has already initiated talks on the retreat between the ministry and the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
While receiving the governor of Katsina state, Dikko Umar Rada in his office, Alake said the federal government places premium on Katsina state in its plans for the development of mining because of large deposits of viable minerals there.
Emphasising that solid minerals is on the Exclusive List, Alake urged states to seek the approval of the federal government before making policy pronouncement on mining activities.
“If a state notices that an operator is conducting his operations against laid down procedures or regulations, we must be notified. Once we are notified, even if the state wants to take action, we give them our blessing,” Alake said.
Governor Rada in his remarks lauded the minister for his efforts in reposition the mining sector. He expressed the state’s readiness to partner with the federal government to harness its mineral resources for the benefit of the state and the nation.
The governor therefore sought the assistance of the federal government to tackle insecurity in some parts of the state, stressing that poverty, injustice and illegal mining are major factors fueling the menace.
He also urged the minister to revoke licences of operators that refuse to commence projects and investigate instances of operators parading dubious letters of consent from host communities, for which Alake replied that the recently inaugurated Mining Marshals would curb the activities of illegal miners in the state, noting that with the revised guidelines for Community Development Agreements (CDA), letter of consent from host community is now mandatory before application for mining licence.
He urged Katsina to take a cue from other states that have applied for mining licences to operate as a limited liability company, assuring the governor of expeditious approval.
