Connect with us

News

FG moves to review mining licence rates

Published

on

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has announced plans to review rates of mining licenses and other sundry fees payable by mining operators in the country.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with stakeholders in the mining industry on Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, stressed that the review has become inevitable if government is to effectively fulfil its obligations of providing an enabling environment for mining operations whilst also raising more revenue for government.

He added that the plan would also boost the capacity of government to effectively reposition the mining sector and solicited the support of stakeholders for the impending increase in fees for mining licenses and other sundry fees.

Highlighting efforts to reposition the mining industry, the Minister revealed that asides from on-going reforms, the administration is sanitising the mining environment through the newly unveiled mining marshals, which he affirmed has been conducting operations in parts of the country to protect legitimate miners and combat illegal mining.

Advertisement

The minister in a statement signed by his special assistant on media, Segun Tomori said, “For us to continue to ensure that we secure the mining environment and keep putting in place measures that will ease the operational difficulties and challenges that confront miners, we need to review the rates of mining licenses and other sundry fees.

“We felt that we can’t just do this without letting you know because invariably, you are the players in the industry.”

Concerning the recent revocation of dormant mining licenses, the Minister noted that the government followed due process and extant laws guiding the action, emphasising that a 30-day restitution window still exists for operators that were affected.

It will be recalled that the Minister announced a restitution fee of N10m, 7.5m, 5m and 2.5m for Mining Leases, Small Scale Mining Licenses, Exploration License and Quarrying License respectively for revoked dormant licenses including those earlier revoked for default in payment of annual service fees.

Advertisement

In his submission, the Director-General of the Mining Cadastral Office, Engr. Obadiah Nkom, who also chair the fees review committee, stated that the committee recommended new rates that are affordable and will enhance the competitiveness of the fiscal regime of the mining sector in comparison with regional and global standards.

Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, the President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Dele Ayanleke commended the Minister for his efforts to put the mining sector on global frontburner, expressing support for ongoing reforms and plans to review fees payable by operators.

He urged the minister to consider challenges faced by miners and ensure the rates are affordable.

Other stakeholders in attendance include Representatives of Women In Mining, Gemstone Miners Association and top officials of the ministry.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Reps Resolve To Continue Consultation on Tax Reform Bills

Published

on

By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has resolved to continue its consultation on the Tax Reform Bills presented to the parliament by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was the resolution reached after a closed door meeting which lasted for over two hours of on Thursday during plenary time.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that President Tinubu had presented four tax bills to the National Assembly which are being considered by the House, but the northern leaders as well as governors of the 36 states have asked the President to withdraw the bills to allow for more consultations.
But the Presidency  has insisted that the bills be allowed to go through the usual legislative process, emphasizing that any suggestion or opposition to any of the bills can be done during publis hearing.
But at Plenary on Thursday, November 28, 2024, the House went into an executive session which lasted for over two hours to discuss the issues surrounding the tax reform bills.
Despondent the issue of the tax bills was not listed for discussion in the order paper, it was gathered that some members had insisted that the issue be discussed by the lawmakers.
After the over two hours closed door meeting, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu who presided over plenary said the decision at the meeting was to allow room for further consultations on the bills.
He said “what we did was to continue our consultation which we promise the House on the tax bills and the agreement  at that session was to continue that conversation. This consultation is going to continue from now till Tuesday when we will hold a special session when we will invite these resource persons to be here in the House to engage us.
“Thereafter, we decide which way to go. This is to make sure that it is well documented that we did our consultation in the form of an executive session and we are continuing that consultation till next week Tuesday.”
Continue Reading

News

Just in: Reps confirm Oluyede Chief of Army Staff

Published

on

The House of Representatives on Thursday has confirmed Lit-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive Chief of Army Staff.

This followed his screening on Wednesday by the Joint Committees on Defence and Army.

The committee Chairman, Babajimi Benson submitted the report during plenary and urged the House to confirm Oluyede; a prayer granted at the session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.

Details later…

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Just in: Former Liberian warlord Prince Johnson dies at 72

Published

on

Ex- Liberian warlord Prince Johnson, a key player in the 1989-2003 back-to-back civil wars, died Thursday aged 72, officials from his party and the Senate revealed.

Johnson, who was seen sipping beer in a video as fighters loyal to him tortured then-president Samuel Doe to death in 1990, was an influential senator.

Senator Johnson was the longest-serving senator,” said Siaffa Jallah, deputy director of press at the Senate.

“Yes, we lost him this morning. He passed away at Hope for Women (health centre)”, Wilfred Bangura, a senior official in Prince Johnson’s Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction party, told AFP.

Advertisement

The death of Doe was an early bloody episode that would plunge Liberia into two civil wars which killed some 250,000 people and ravaged the economy.

Prince Johnson, who hailed from the northern region of Nimba, later became a preacher in an evangelical church where he enjoyed wide popularity.

He was also a leading opponent of the creation of a tribunal that would try civil war-related crimes.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News