The Federal Government has issued a 90-day ultimatum to the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) to improve its performance or face sanctions.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, gave the ultimatum during the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MIREMCO Chairmen, citing dissatisfaction with the committee’s execution of its mandate.
Alake criticized MIREMCO for failing to fulfil its statutory responsibilities, which include acting as a mediator between sub national authorities, local communities, operators, and the federal government.
He noted that the federal government relies on MIREMCO’s reports on the activities or inactivity of operators and their compliance with environmental regulations.
The minister referred to Section 19, sub-section 3(G) of the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) 2007, which mandates MIREMCO to serve as a liaison between stakeholders in the solid minerals sector.
Alake pointed out that if MIREMCO had effectively executed its mandate, the spate of interference by subnationals and local governments would have been minimal.
“The federal government is supposed to rely on your reports on the activities or inactivity of operators and whether they comply with environmental regulations and all other sundry regulations governing the sector.
“We are not impressed by the execution of that mandate, and we will not hesitate to wield the big stick if, after 90 days, the committee fails to turn a new leaf,” he said.
“If provisions of the act had been effected by MIREMCO, the spate of interference that we witness by the subnationals, in some instances, local governments shutting down mines and making policy pronouncements that are outrightly unconstitutional, would have been minimal.”
Alake emphasized that MIREMCO’s structure already includes subnational representation, with chairmen and five members out of the ten-member committee nominated by state governments.
Despite this, he charged the committee to demonstrate significant improvements within the given timeframe.
Failure to meet the expectations of the federal government within 90 days will result in sanctions.
“Failure to meet the expectations of the federal government within 90 days will leave us with no option but to act appropriately to restore effective management of the nation’s mineral resources and its attendant environmental concerns,” he added.
In a related development, the Federal Government has announced plans to establish six mineral centres across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria as part of its effort to boost the mining sector.
The government has also developed a new policy aimed at ensuring Nigeria derives maximum value from the extraction of its mineral resources.
The new policy mandates that investors provide a concrete plan for local processing and value addition before their mining applications are approved.
This policy is intended to promote the development of local industries, including technology, skills transfer, and employment opportunities.
The Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO) has issued around 7,000 mining licenses, but fewer than 1,000 of these mines are active due to various challenges.
The NMCO has generated over N8 billion in revenue as of October 2024 but continues to face significant financial limitations, which hinder its ability to efficiently manage the sector.
Leave a comment