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.

Afonja Descendants Union     Adeniyi Ojo     Danhawa     Sola Saraki Educational Foundation     Musa Abdullahi     Kwara Hotel     Vasolar     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     Sheikh Hamzat Yusuf Ariyibi     UNILORIN Alumni     Iqra Books     Abatemi-Usman     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Garba Dogo     Kamaldeen Kehinde     Ahmed Bayero     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Musa Yeketi     Kwara Central     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Nnazua     JUSUN     Haliru Yahaya     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Pakata     Saraki     Asa LGEA School     Bola Sagaya     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     QuickWin     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Oko     Abdulraheem Olesin     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     TIIDELab     Najim Yaasin     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Jaigbade Alao     Tunde Idiagbon Road     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     All Peoples Party     James Kolo     Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan     Christopher Odetunde     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Chief Imam Of Offa     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Shuaibu Yaman     Haruna Olawale Sulaiman     Lukman Adeloyin     Salaudeen Oyewale     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Funmilayo Mohammed     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Onilorin     Allocation     Hassanat Bello     Maigida Soludero Transit     Oba Of Jebba     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa     Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Ibrahim Sulu Gambari     General Hospital, Ilorin     Bureau Of Lands     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Damilola Yusuf     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Olushola Saraki     Seni Saraki     Funmilayo Mohammed     Durosinlohun Atiku     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Saliu Alamoyo     Abubakar Aliagan     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Fatai Olodo     Tafidan Kaiama     Elese Of Igbaja     Kolade Solagberu     Amina El-Imam     AGILE Programme     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Kola Olota     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Idi-Ape     AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro     IEDPU     Kwara State Football Association     National Pilot     Kulende     Razak Atunwa     Bilikis Oladimeji     Yusuf Abubakar     Ibrahim Mohammed     Ayobami Seriki     Alloy Chukwuemeka     ANCOPPS     Garba Idris Ajia     Taofeeq Olateju     Third Estate     Henry Makinwa     Student Learning Support Helpline     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Maja     Abdulwahab Ololele     KWASEIC     Egbejila     Bibire Ajape     Yahya Mohammed     New Nigeria People’s Party     Rotimi Oyedepo     Kpotum Mohammed Baba     Abubakar B.M     Popo-Igbonna     Yahaya A Paniyaro     Lanre Aremu     Halidu Danbaba     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Balogun Ajikobi     ITEM 7     Lateef Fagbemi     Oja-Oba     Yeketi     Transition Implementation Committee     Olaiya Zuberu     Odolaye Aremu     Hakeem Lawal     Aliyu Salihu     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     CACOVID     Diagnostic Centre     Salihu S. Yaru     Okin Malt     Agbarere     Oko Erin     Lanre Issa-Onilu     Raji Ayodele Kamaldeen     Ilorin Metro Park     Ilorin General Hospital