The Head, Mining Group, Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and former Chairman, Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Alh. Shehu Sani, has said that the N20 billion revenue target set by the Ministry of Mines and Steel for this year is achievable.
In chat with Rock Post, Sani said with the kind of commitment and the increased collaboration with stakeholders being seen on the part of government which are preconditions for improved revenue collection, he had no doubt about the sector, considering its reach potentials, being able to take in N20 billion for the country in 12 months.
“I think the projection of N20 billion for this year is realisable.
“What is there is that those in charge of revenue collection in the ministry should be motivated to perform their constitutional duty effectively.
“It is the collection that has been the major issue, because before now, it had been confirmed that only less then 50 per cent collection used to be made, so if the collection machinary can be enhanced and motivated, why not,” he said.
He however appealed to government to address the ease of doing in mining properly.
“For Instance, the community issue is there. At times when a miner who is ready to work after satisfying all that is required by the law, and on getting to the community, you meet a resistance, you get discouraged,” he said.
The mining veteran also urged government to do more in terms of supporting miners in the area of mineral processing which, according to him, is capital intensive because of the kind of equipment required.
“Again, miners need to be supported in the area of value addition as it requires capital intensive equipment.
“And this is to enable the miners to operate at maximal level because if they don’t, government might not operate be able to get the kind of revenue it is expecting from the sector.
“In view of the fact that government is making some investment in the sector now, there is need to have increased turnover, but at the same time miners need to be supported,” he said.
