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.

Abdulazeez Uthman     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Abdulkadir Jimoh     Ayekale     Mohammed Yahaya Barki     KFA     Idofin     Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners     Kwara State Fish Farmers Association     Henry Makinwa     Aisha Gobir     General Hospital     Aisha Ahman-Pategi     Iqra Books     Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan     Bio Ibrahim     Babatunde Idiagbon     Ayinke Saka     Yahaya Jibril Usman     Abdulhakeem Amao     Wahab Egbewole     Alore     Local Government     Oniye     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Ramat Oganija     Baruten     Sheriff Olanrewaju     Olateju Lukman     Obuh     ER-KANG     Saba Mamman Daniel     Elese Of Igbaja     Okanlawon Taiwo     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Moses Rahman Popoola     ITP     Yahaya Dumoye     Oko Erin     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Yinka Aluko     Amada Jidda     Playing Host     Omupo     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Kisira     KSIRS     Neo Mundo Ltd     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Abdulrauf Aliyu     Women Radio     Bisi Oyeleke     Vasolar     Yusuf Mubarak     Yakubu Gobir     Trader Moni     Tunde Saad     Marufat Oladosu     Ilofa     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Mamman Saba Jibril     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     The Herald     20 Billion Bond     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     Ali Ahmad     Allocation     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     NITDA     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     KWASSIP     Kwara Poly     Amos Justus Sayo     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Abdulrasheed Lafia     HICA    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Saliu Tunde Bello     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Abubakar B.M     Jumoke Gafar     Overland     Sherif Sagaya     Kayode Oyin-Zubair     Hijab     Mohammed Saidu     Bilikis Oladimeji     Saliu Oluwole     Kunle Akogun     Oyelere Oyinloye     Jaigbade Alao     Prince Bola Ajibola     Lawal Arinola Kudirat     A.G.F Abdulrasaq     Isiaka Danmeromu     Congress For National Consensus     Bature Bello     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf     Haruna Olawale Sulaiman     Inside Kwara     ARMTI     Garment Factory     Kwara TV     Principal Private Secretary     Eleja     NAWOJ     Jumoke F. Ajao     Bamidele Adegoke     COVID-19 Palliatives     Saliu Mustapha     Kwara Liberation Group     Tunji Folami     National Party Of Nigeria     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Awwal Jawondo     Edret Sabi Abel     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Habeeb Saidu     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Monthly Sanitation Exercise     Aminu Adisa Logun     Chief Imam Of Offa     Suleman Abubakar     Binta Abubakar Mora     Fareedah Dankaka     Madawaki     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Pakata Development Association     Samari     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Kumbi Titilope     Folashade Omoniyi     2023 Elections     Abdulraufu Mustapha     Abdulwaheed Musa     UITH     Ilesha Gwanara Road     Valsolar Consultoria     Chief Of Staff     Igosun     Abubakar Baba     Arinola Lawal     TIC     Jide Oyinloye     Irepodun     Yusuf Arowosaye     Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin     Makama Of Kaiama     Funmilayo Mohammed     Harrison Osauwagboe     Ojuekun