The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, has disclosed that miners and operators in the sector owed the Federal Government more than N2 trillion.
The minister stated this during a meeting with licensed mineral holders and laterite/sand operators/dealers in Kaduna State on Thursday.
According to Alake, who was represented by the Acting Zonal Mines Officer, North-West Zonal Office, Kutman Hosea Ali, the purpose of the meeting was to unveil the ministry’s plan for miners and operators for 2024 and beyond.
Alake also revealed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is determined to halt the activities of illegal miners across the country, as he described the activities of illegal miners as a huge crime against Nigeria.
The minister said: “Miners and operators owed the federal government more than N2 trillion, while in Kaduna State, it’s over N300 billion.
“We have made it very clear that in Kaduna State, every operator should take bold steps and clear their debt.”
He further directed the Special Mines Taskforce activated in Kaduna State to clamp down on illegal miners and nonpayment of royalties, which must be paid monthly as well as other taxes to the apex government.
Persecondnews reports that the Special Mines Surveillance Taskforce is comprised of members from the Nigeria Army, Police, Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Security Services, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Nigeria Immigration Service.
“Let me clarify it: the state government and local government are entitled to collect other taxes, such as ground rent and other taxes, but they are not to collect royalty and tax on mining.
“Any state government or any local government that collects money in the name of royalty or mineral tax will be deducted from the source allocated to the state.
“The Special Mines Taskforce has been activated in Kaduna State, and they had commenced operations on the war against illegal mining and nonpayment of royalties, which must be paid monthly, as well as other taxes to the Government of Nigeria,” the minister added.
Alake warned miners and operators against going to the field without a mining license, while noting that those who had obtained their license “should report to the Mines Office, Kaduna, to collect permits to mobilize to the site.”.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Kaduna branch, Ado Dogo, represented by the Secretary of the association, Kashim Hussaini, said the interface between miners and the regulators became imperative.
He decried what he termed the interference of state governors in mining activities while stressing the need for state governors to respect the laws guiding mining activities in their various states.
“We as miners know we are operating within a state, local government, and even down to villages, but sometimes state governors can stop you from working. Meanwhile, this mining operation is what we are doing by contributing to the federation account,” he said.
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