Nasarawa Govt, Mining Cadastre Office partner to regulate mining activities

…as another firm moves to invest 250m USD on lithium factory

Following concerns raised about emerging threats to security around mining sites in part of the state, Nasarawa State Government is partnering with the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO), to regulate mining activities in the state.

This came to fore after the Director General, NMCO, Mr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, paid a courtesy visit on Governor Abdullahi Sule, at the Government House, on Friday.

The NMCO was established in 2007 with the responsibility for the administration and management of mineral titles in Nigeria in accordance with Section 5 (1) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

In his opening remarks, Mr Nkom said he was in Lafia to declared unalloyed support and to partner with the Nasarawa State Government and to regulate mining activities in the state.

The director general said his agency is aware of the challenges that are there in the mining sector, particularly when it comes to communities, land owners, security and operators who come in diverse ways, with different perspectives but all the target is the abundant wealth available in Nasarawa State.

“This is the wealth that we have, and we want to take advantage of it to be a blessing to our people. But at the same time, mining must be done in a regulated manner. It must, at the end of the day to be done to be able to bring benefits not just to the communities but to the entire state and country at large.

“I came here to give you my unalloyed support. I am ready as much as possible to now be able to partner with you so that we will now be able to regulate the industry properly.

“At the end of the day, the benefits of the minerals’ wealth of Nasarawa State will be able to trickle down to all levels of government. At the end of the day, the Home of Solid Minerals will be justified, not just a name,” Mr Nkom said.

In his response, Governor Abdullahi Sule decried the spade of unrest around mining sites mostly due to activities of illegal miners.

The Governor expressed appreciation over the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office to partner with his administration towards sanitizing mining activities in the state.

According to Governor Sule, the opportunities in the mining sector are enormous but that steps must be taken not to waste such opportunities by encouraging illegal mining.

“A single community has accepted 700m from a company that is investing to do mining. These are the kinds of problems that we are having.

“I’m happy you are here to make sure we work together. We are here to look at all these indices for the betterment of your own organization, the ministry, for Nigeria and indeed for Nasarawa State and the communities. That is just my dream. I am happy to see you with this enthusiasm and commitment for us to work together,” he stated.

The Governor however requested the NMCO to always ensure prospective mining companies seeking for licenses to operate in Nasarawa State always present their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in other to safeguard the environment.

“As far as we are concerned, any company coming to do this huge investment, at least they should have their EIA report. I don’t know your requirements, your guidelines for issuance of license, but for a company to have a prospecting and even mining license and then come back later without the EIA, is wrong.

“In ten years, such company can cause huge damage to the community then they will go away to China and we will be looking at how to protect that community. The devastation will not come until at the end of the exercise,” he added.

Governor Sule expressed optimism that the state, known as the Home of Solid Minerals, is beginning to witness the discovery of most sought-after, most attractive minerals, especially lithium.

He used the opportunity of the visit to announce that yet another private firm, has approached him with the idea of investing N250m USD, towards building another lithium factory that has the capacity to process 18, 000 metric tons per day.

He added that, already the contract for the project has already been awarded to the company that built the Dangote Cement factories in Ogbajana, Ibese, as well as upgraded the Benue Cement Company.