Dr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has disclosed the government’s intention to increase mining license rates and other related fees payable by mining operators in Nigeria. This announcement came during a consultative meeting with stakeholders in the mining industry, where Alake emphasized the necessity of the review to enhance the government’s capacity to revitalize the mining sector.
According to a statement released by Segun Tomori, the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Alake outlined ongoing efforts to reposition the mining industry. He highlighted the deployment of mining marshals to sanitize the mining environment and combat illegal mining activities, protecting legitimate miners in the process.
Alake urged stakeholders to support the proposed increase in fees for mining licenses and other related charges, citing the need to provide an enabling environment for mining operations while generating additional revenue for the government. He emphasized the importance of engaging industry players in the decision-making process.
Regarding the recent revocation of dormant mining licenses, the minister assured stakeholders that due process and existing laws guided the action. He noted the existence of a 30-day restitution window for affected operators, with specified fees for reinstating revoked licenses.
Engr. Obadiah Nkom, the Director-General of the Mining Cadastral Office, who chaired the fees review committee, highlighted the committee’s recommendation of new rates aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Nigeria’s mining fiscal regime compared to global standards.
Dele Ayanleke, the President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), commended the minister’s efforts to prioritize the mining sector globally. He expressed support for ongoing reforms and called for consideration of the challenges faced by miners to ensure that the revised rates are affordable.
The meeting was attended by representatives from various mining associations, including Women In Mining (WIN) and the Gemstone Miners Association (GMA), as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
