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.

Baba-Isale     Durbar Festival     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Abubakar Atiku     Ramadan     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Rihanat Ajia     Bolakale Saka     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq     Ballah     Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Igbaja     Tunji Folami     Eleja     Fatai Olodo     Abubakar Aliagan     Omotoso     Saheed Popoola     Christopher Odetunde     Shettima     Bayo Ajia     KWASAA     Oluronke Adeyemi     IHS     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     Timothy Akangbe     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Unilorin     Abdullahi Samari     Women For Change And Development Initiative     Basit Olatunji     Noah Yusuf     Kwara State Football Association     Afonja Descendants Union     Oro Grammar School     Yashikira     Firdaos Amasa     Ayinke Saka     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Saliu Shola Taofeek     Taibat Ayinke Ahmed     Tinubu Legacy Forum     NITDA     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Kayode Ogunlowo     College Of Education     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Edret Sabi Abel     Al-Adaby     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Kolo     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Kassim Babamale     Ileloke     Sai Kayi     Kunle Okeowo     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Saadu Alanamu     Oni Adebayo     Unilorin FM     Edu     Gbenga Olawepo     Kunbi Titiloye     Hussein Oloyede     Ajayi Okasanmi     Ahmad Uthman     Salau Kabiru Abdullahi     Okeose Christian Cementary     Rasaq Jimoh     KWAFFA     Monthly Sanitation Exercise     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Government High School Adeta     N-Power     Ramadhan    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Ayobami Akanbi     Eleyele     LABTOP     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Press Release     Razaq Atunwa     KFA     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Ilorin General Hospital     James Kolo     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Gbenga Adebayo     Kwara State Government     Odolaye Aremu     Zaratu Umar     Muritala Olarewaju     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Doyin Agbamu     Usman Alkali Baba     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     Kazeem Gbolagade     Chief Of Staff     Bayo Ajia     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Saka Aleshinloye     CT Ayeni     Albert Ogunsola     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Oyedepo     Umar Adelodun     Oyun     Kayode Ogunlowo     Yusuf Olaolu Ali     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     RTEAN     Amuda Musbau     Biliaminu Aliu     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Ghali Alaaya     UTME     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Apaola     Arinola Lawal     Emir Of Yashikira     Kamoru Kadiri     Laduba     Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede     Split Diamond Interchange     Olabimpe Olani     Ibrahim Taiwo Road     Harmony Holdings     NSCIA     Cassava Growers\' Association     Lola Ashiru     Al-Ilory     Simon Sayomi     HICA     Olofa Of Offa     Benin Republic     Balogin Alanamu     Ola Falade     Tuesday Assayomo     Sherif Shagaya     Omupo     Damilola Yusuf     Saraki     FERMA     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     TIC     Esuwoye     Ladi Hassan     Rex Olawoye     Mohammed Yisa     Kwabes     Abdulkareem Alabi     Kanu Agabi