The Bauchi state government Wednesday solicited the support of stakeholders in the mining sector towards ensuring the successful implementation of the Consent Letter Policy in the state.
The Commissioner of Natural Resources, Maiwada Bello, in a press release by the information officer of the ministry, Saleh Umar, stated that the government has recorded remarkable successes in the ongoing implementation of the new mining Consent Letter Policy.
The commissioner added that the successes were recorded as a result of stopping traditional rulers from signing mining consent until approval and recommendation letters were issued from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Bello said the ministry has established a strong synergy between the state government and operators there by mitigating security challenges affecting mining communities as well as enlightening respective applicants on the importance of community engagement.
He said, in compliance with the new policy, over 30 companies that intend to operate in the state have so far been captured in the ministry’s data base and were successfully served with consent clearance.
The commissioner stated that the ministry used the documentation period to educate prospective investors on the importance of community engagement, environmental challenges and their safety and advised stakeholders to join hands with the ministry to develop the sector for the benefit of all.
He noted that the move is gradually making the state one of the excellent centers for mining investment in the country.
He further informed that the initiative enabled the government to showcase the available mineral resources to investors with the aim of attracting larger investments and said the policy has given the state government an insight about the identity of the investors coming to the state and their location of operation.
