Constitution preventing states from exploring minerals - Ahmed

Date: 2017-07-10

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has said Nigeria's constitution is an impediment to state governments in Nigeria to mine and explore mineral deposits in their respective states.

He stated that this development had inhibited the states from increasing their internally-generated revenue and creating employment opportunities through the development and harnessing of solid minerals in their areas.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Musa Yeketi, spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during the installation of Prof. Silas Dada as the 29th President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society on Sunday.

He explained that Section 44 (3) of the 1999 Constitution vested the Federal Government with the ownership and control of all minerals, oils and natural gas in Nigeria.

He added that the Second Schedule, Part 1, Item 39 of the Exclusive List in the 1999 Constitution restricted state governments from developing their respective mining potential.

Ahmed said, "The availability of solid minerals in Nigeria presents state governments with the opportunity to increase their internally-generated revenue for themselves, reduce dependence on FG's (revenue) allocation and create employment for our teeming youth population. However, the constitution appears to hobble this possibility.

"This creates a situation whereby states have limited authority over mining activities in their domain and are often required to purchase expensive licences from the Federal Government with no guarantee of returns or successful exploitation of mineral resources."

But Dada said the FG was now willing to encourage active participation of state governments in exploration and mining activities if the state governments were willing.

He said, "Nothing stops any state in Nigeria now from forming a private company, joining with that private company and mining.

"The problem we have in the state is because government is at the back of it, accountability is an issue. But if you do it like a business, you allow the private sector to do it as business and make profit, then there will not be a problem."

Dada said Nigeria's abundant natural resources should not be a curse to the nation. He stated that though Nigeria had a large deposit of oil, if properly managed, solid mineral resources-driven development is the best growth opportunity for the country.

He urged the Federal Government to get the Natural Resources Management policy chain right.

He stated that the NRM policy chain should be adequately developed by setting up strong policies in every area of income generation and investment.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Alanamu     Awodun     Public Holiday     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     3MTT     Overland     Vasolar     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     Ndama Al-hassan     Osinbajo     Solomon Edoja     Salihu Ajia     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Albert Ogunsola     Chikanda     Oloriegbe     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Femi Oladiji     Oke-Kura     Dagbalodo     Kisra     Cassava Growers\' Association     AIT Ilorin     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Gaa Olobi     Wole Oke     Okasanmi Ajayi     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     RTEAN     Kola Olota     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Yusuf Arowosaye     Oyun     Borgu     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Michael Nzwekwe     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Universal Basic Education Commission     Oba-Solagberu     Hassanat Bello     Kwara Metro Park     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Nagode     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Bolakale Saka     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Radio SBS     Ayobami Akanbi     Olupako Of Share     Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     Abdulrasheed Lafia     Fatimoh Lawal     Kubra Kazum     2023 Elections     Otuka     Lawal Olohungbebe     Bankole Omisore     NSCIA     Olatunji Ayeni     Yemi Sanni     Presidential Election     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Mamatu Abdullahi     Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf     Asa LGEA School     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     Waheed Ibrahim     Abubakar Imam     Oyin-Zubair     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Tunde Akanbi     Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road     Abubakar Lah     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Olawuyi     Belgore    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Joseph Bamigboye     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     MATTA Girls Foundation     Minimum Wage     Sebastine Obasi     Baba-Isale     Baboko Primary School     Umar Gunu     Agboola Babatunde     David Oyedepo     Kwara State Fish Farmers Association     Kisira     KSIRS     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Kulende     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Olokoba Sulyman     Olam Food Ingredients     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Atunwa     SSA Youth Engagement     Baba Issa     Kayode Bankole     Binta Abubakar-Mora     NULGE     TIIDELab     Aisha Buhari     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Young Progressives Party     Hassan Oyeleke     Aso-ofi     Ekiti     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Segun Adeniyi     Binta Sulyman     Salary     Al-Hikmah University     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Arinola Lawal     Alabi Lawal     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Ado Ibrahim     Magaji Are     Mary Kemi Adeosun     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     Lucky Omoluwa     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Musa Yeketi     Bola Shagaya     Olaitan Buraimoh     Gambari     New Model Police Station     Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi     Omoniyi M. Ayinla     Iyaloja-General     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     HICA     Olatunde Jare     Nnazua     Babs Iwarere     Ahmed     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Yusuf Abubakar     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     REO CAKES     Post-utme     Sulu Gambari     Wahab Issa     Boko Haram     Tafida Of Kaiama     Suleiman Mora Omar     Lateef Fagbemi     Akeem Lawal     Emmanuel Bello