FG To Revoke Dormant Mining And Exploration License
The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Monday said that the Federal Government is set to revoke licenses in the mining and exploration sector that have been dormant and have not operated over a period of time.
Speaking during a fact finding tour to Niger State, the Minister said that the Federal Government is not out to criminalize ordinary Nigerians who are working hard to make a living for themselves, but added that if they choose to remain illegal after government has extended its hand of support, they will have to face the wrath of the law.
“Illegal mining exists, we need to stop being in denial of it. One of this government’s priorities is to provide jobs for our people. We are not criminalizing hardworking Nigerians who are trying to eke out a living for themselves rather, we are aiming to formalize the sector.
“We are working to ensure that those referred to as illegals are formalized into cooperatives to enable them contribute to the Nigerian society via taxes. After this step, anyone who chooses to remain illegal, we will wage war against them”, the Minister added.
Dr. Fayemi explained the benefits of organising the illegal miners into cooperatives and this include helping them with facilities to access finances.
“Many people in Nigeria own mining, exploration and small scale licenses and have not been operating in the places where they are issued with the licenses. This is not acceptable.
“Government have turned a blind eye to such activities for a long time, henceforth, government will no longer tolerate that. In a matter of weeks, we will publish the names of people who are holding onto dormant licenses that are not in use and give them an appropriate period to redeem themselves or revoke the licenses,” the Minister added.
Speaking during a fact finding tour to Niger State, the Minister said that the Federal Government is not out to criminalize ordinary Nigerians who are working hard to make a living for themselves, but added that if they choose to remain illegal after government has extended its hand of support, they will have to face the wrath of the law.
“Illegal mining exists, we need to stop being in denial of it. One of this government’s priorities is to provide jobs for our people. We are not criminalizing hardworking Nigerians who are trying to eke out a living for themselves rather, we are aiming to formalize the sector.
“We are working to ensure that those referred to as illegals are formalized into cooperatives to enable them contribute to the Nigerian society via taxes. After this step, anyone who chooses to remain illegal, we will wage war against them”, the Minister added.
Dr. Fayemi explained the benefits of organising the illegal miners into cooperatives and this include helping them with facilities to access finances.
“Many people in Nigeria own mining, exploration and small scale licenses and have not been operating in the places where they are issued with the licenses. This is not acceptable.
“Government have turned a blind eye to such activities for a long time, henceforth, government will no longer tolerate that. In a matter of weeks, we will publish the names of people who are holding onto dormant licenses that are not in use and give them an appropriate period to redeem themselves or revoke the licenses,” the Minister added.
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