Ilorin – Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has called for review of Section 44 (3) of the 1999 Constitution to allow state governments to own solid minerals found in their domains.
The governor made the call while declaring the 52nd Annual National Conference of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, open in Ilorin on Tuesday.
He also called for review of the Second Schedule, Part1 (39) of the Exclusive Legislative list in the 1999 Constitution which restricts state governments from developing their respective mining industries.
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Ahmed contended that this had limited the authority of states in the mining sector.
“This restriction has led to states having no authority to regulate the sector despite playing host to miners”, he added.
He then called on the Federal Government to allow states increased participation in exploration of solid minerals.
“With this, states will be able to stimulate more growth, increase their Internally Generated Revenue, and create critical jobs for youths.
“While we have a fair estimate of the mineral resources our country is endowed with, it is believed this barely scratches the surface of the vast mineral deposits in Nigeria.
“We must, however, acknowledge that mineral exploitation is expensive and time consuming”, the governor said.
Ahmed was of the opinion that the resources required for mineral exploitation were beyond the capacity of most states in the country.
“I, therefore, call for partnership between the Federal Government and states for a survey of the quality and quantity of solid minerals in the country in order to build geosciences database”, he said.
The governor said Kwara was blessed with gold, kaolin, marble, dolomite, tourmalines, limestone and several other solid minerals.
“The government is focused on exploiting them to form the base for industrial development of the state.
“In order to diversify our economic base through solid minerals, this administration has put in place strategies to formalise and grow the industry.
“These strategies include: enumerating and regulating operators and growing micro-and small-scale operators in the sector, amongst others”, Ahmed added.
He said his government was also planning to organise informal miners in the sector into cooperatives and give access to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises loans.
“This is to encourage small business owners in solid minerals and mining sector’’, the governor said.
Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the ministry was planning to ensure that mining sector contributed 10 per cent to the country’s economy.
Fayemi called on state governors to discard their old fears that the constitution vested the power to mine in the federal government alone. (NAN)
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