The Federal Government of Nigeria says it will ensure that all leakages that have impeded collection of revenues acruable in the solid minerals sector over the years are stopped as it vows to achieve its target of 50 per cent contribution from the sector to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country.
Dr Oladele Alake, Minister for Solid Minerals Development, made the declaration Wednesday during his familiarisation tour of the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) which is an agency under the ministry.
Dr Alake explained that the deliberate decision to ensure that all leakages and loopholes across agencies under the ministry with the aim of reviewing and enhancing revenues is deemed imperative in view of government’s high expectation for revenue from the sector to facilitate implementation of programmes that would lift the people out of poverty, generate employment opportunities and create wealth under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
The Minister in a statement signed by the head of Media and Public Relations in the ministry, Alaba Balogun, said: “We will take firm decisions in record time, block all loopholes to enhance revenue collection, review of all fees paid by operators and businessmen with alacrity across all the agencies of the ministry.”
Stressing the pressing need to remove any impediment to revenue growth, Dr Alake reiterated that the ministry was poised to meet its target projection of making the solid Minerals sector achieve its target of 50% contribution to the GDP of the country, adding that the solid minerals sector is the next oil.
”We will employ all legitimate means of sealing leakages”, the minister stressed.
While commending the enviable contribution of the Mining Cadastre Office in the overall achievements of the ministry, Dr Alake admonished its staff not only to brace up in maintaining the success achieved, but strive surpass federal government’s target.
The Director General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Engr Simon Nkom, briefed the minister on the agency’s activities, programmes, achievements and challenges, citing the need to upgrade its electronic system (the e-MCO+) for greater efficiency in administrative management of cadastre applications.
In furtherance of the agencies tour, the Minister who visited the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) thereafter acknowledged the peculiar role of the agency the overall national development, particularly in projecting and generating vital data for all professional fields.
“NGSA affects every sector of the economy; data, information, and intelligence is power. Every decision maker needs it”, Dr Alake said.
Similarly, the Director General of the NGSA, Dr Garba AbdulRazak, took his time to brief the Minister on its mandate, programmes, and activities, with a guided tour of the agency’s museum in its Abuja headquarters building.
During his visit to the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), the Minister said the agency cannot be relegated as it performs a role that is critical to the survival of the sector and the nation at large.
He noted that ”COMEG as a quasi-academic body is helping to ensure quality control in the training and practices of professionals in the Nigerian extractive industry”.
The Minister assured the DGs and Actg Registrar, respectively, of the three agencies visited of the ministry’s constant support and cooperation in addressing and resolving their peculiar challenges.
