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.

Undergraduate Bursary     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Mohammed Danjuma     Offorjama     Yakubu Gobir     Neo Mundo Ltd     Valsolar     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     Rafiu Ibrahim     Dunmade     Bamidele Adegoke     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     Tafida     Sanusi Abubakar     Abegunde Goke     Federal Allocation     Rotimi Oyedepo     Sadiq Umar     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     3MTT     Kawu     Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo     COEASU     NITDA     Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla     Omoniyi M. Ayinla     Bankole Omishore     LABTOP     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Summit University     Yomi Adeboye     Modibbo Kawu     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Baba Isale     Ahmed Bayero     Tunde Yusuf     Henry Olaosebikan     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Aliyu Umar     Dairo Kunle Paul     Kawu Baraje     Najim Yaasin     Abraham Ojo     Wahab Issa     Sheikh Alimi     HICA     Mahee Abdulkadir     Suleiman Idris     Amusement Park     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Ekiti     Clement Yomi Adeboye     National Association Of Nigerian Students     JSSCE     Ndakene     Christian Association Of Nigeria     David Oyedepo     Kabir Shagaya     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Yahaya Oloriegbe     UNILORIN Alumni Association     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Clara Nwachukwu     Laboratory-to-Product     Oro Grammar School     Dasuki Belgore     Bashir Badawi     Ilesha-Gwanara     07039448763     Obuh     AIT Ilorin     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Ilorin Muslim Community     Hassan A. Saliu    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Emmanuel Bello     Ilorin Emirate     Kwara Liberation Group     Aliyu Salihu     Kwara NIPR     UNIFEMGA     Shola Odetundun     Busari Alabi Alausa     Hijaab     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Adanla-Irese     20 Billion Bond     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Aremu Bose Deborah     Ibrahim Abdullahi     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Okin Biscuits     Ilorin West     Dauda Adesola     Hassan Oyeleke     Rasaq Jimoh     Taiwo Joseph     Folorunsho Alao     Manzuma     Olatunde Olukoya     Kola Adesina     Abubakar Usman Jos     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Okanlawon Musa     MMWG     Yetunde Balogun     Hajj     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     AGF Abdulrazaq     Elese Of Igbaja     Ayinde Oki     Unilorin     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Garment Factory     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Yusuf A. Usman     Saheed Popoola     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     Musbau A. Akanji     Iyabo Adewuyi     Jamiu Oyawoye     Dumagi     Babajide Ajayi     Kwara Apc     Kwara State Polytechnic     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Saadu Alanamu     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Hussein Olokooba     Ibrahim Labaika     Post-utme     Ibrahim Abikan     Iliasu     Baaziki Sulaiman     Ilorin Like-Minds     Musa Alhassan Buge     Logun     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Mohammed Yisa     Sulyman Abdulkareem     Abubakar Abdullahi Bata     Labaeka     Abdulraheem Olesin     Turaki     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Gbajabiamila     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin     Noah Yusuf